It has been a difficult year for King Charles. After an operation at the start of 2024, he discovered he had cancer and has been receiving treatment ever since. It altered the way he worked for several months but his return to public engagements has clearly brought him contentment and his work remains undimmed. While there have been difficulties, the King has also had many positive moments in a year with ups, downs and plenty of memories.
King Charles goes into surgery
At the beginning of the year, Buckingham Palace announced His Majesty would undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate.
The King then encouraged men experiencing symptoms to get their prostates checked. Queries surged bringing health benefits to many. The King was said to be humbled that his gesture had made such a difference.
King Charles is diagnosed with cancer
Several weeks following His Majesty’s surgery, it was announced The King had cancer. The news came as a shock but King Charles was determined to remain positive.
While it was not specified what type of cancer, The King took a few months off from public facing engagements with Queen Camilla leading the Royal Family at major events including the Commonwealth Day service. On that day, The King delivered a recorded message, as usual, while private meetings continued on medical advice as treatment continued.
The King slowly returns to public duties
In April, The King made his first public facing engagement since beginning his treatment. He visited a cancer charity at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.
During the visit, His Majesty shared his experiences with patients in some emotional conversations.
The pride of a King and the tears of a Queen
King Charles III led tributes to the veterans of D Day when he joined commemorations for the 80th anniversary in Portsmouth in June. In an emotional speech at a national event in Portsmouth, where so many soldiers departed for the landings, he said the country was ”forever in their debt”.
The King spoke of the ”courage, resilience and solidarity” of those who had taken part in D-Day which began the end of World War Two. As some of the veterans spoke, Queen Camilla broke down in tears. Their Majesties met many of the veterans in attendance as the events progressed.
The State Visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan
In June, The Emperor and Empress of Japan made their long awaited State Visit to the UK, delayed for several years. The King was at the forefront of diplomatic events during the special trip.
The full spectacle of State Visit ceremonial was on show with Emperor Naruhito inspecting a Guard of Honour with King Charles at the official welcome while warm words were exchanged in speeches at the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.
A return to a full diary
The King didn’t take long after being given the go ahead for public facing engagements by his doctors to pack his diary to the rafters. In June, he insisted on completing all the major royal events that mark that month, leading the Order of the Garter service and taking the salute at Trooping the Colour.
There was also the small matter of Royal Ascot to enjoy with The King in attendance on several days. His Majesty also made sure another member of his family, whose own year had been hit by tragedy, was given a special place. At The King’s insistence, Lady Gabriella Kingston rode in one of the lead carriages at the event, months after the sudden loss of her husband, Thomas Kingston.
A third Prime Minister for Charles III
King Charles III got the third Prime Minister of his reign just a year and a half after taking the throne and welcomed Sir Keir Starmer to Buckingham Palace for the tradition of kissing hands. The new PM, clearly exhausted from a long night of following election counts, was given a kind welcome by The King who allowed the historic meeting to be filmed, briefly, for the first time.
Following his election as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for the first time in his new role. In August, The Royal Family began their stay at Balmoral Castle for their summer holiday. As is traditional, the Prime Minister and his wife were invited to join the party for several days.
The second anniversary of Charles III’s accession
In September, the second anniversary of Charles III’s accession to the throne was marked. For the occasion, The Queen joined her husband for a small service at Crathie Kirk on the Balmoral Estate. Days earlier, they had attended the Braemar Gathering.
While it was a sombre anniversary, it was also marked a milestone with a new hymn commissioned by His Majesty for Crathie Kirk making its public debut.
King Charles joined Idris Elba in a new project
Actor Idris Elba joined forces with The King in an effort to help young people get the education and training they need to pursue their creative aspirations. The star has long been an ambassador for The King’s Trust (formerly the Prince’s Trust with the name change coming formally in October 2024). and he met up with King Charles as the plans unfurled, just as England headed to the final of the Euros – football shirt photo on cue.
In connection, it was announced The King’s Trust will deliver a range of free courses for those interested in performing or visual arts.
The King and Queen head to Australia for an historic tour
In October, The King and Queen went down under for a Royal Tour of Australia and Samoa. They were given a very warm welcome with the famous Sydney Opera House lit up with images of their past visits while still Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. However, this time round was an historic visit – the first ever to Australia by a reigning King of Australia.
Highlights of the trip included His Majesty taking part in a review of the fleet and taking part in a traditional indigenous smoking ceremony with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. The visit to Samoa also included the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which His Majesty, Head of the Commonwealth, addressed.
The State Visit of the Emir of Qatar
As 2024 drew to a close, King Charles welcomed the Emir of Qatar and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher, to London for a State Visit. The traditional welcome, with the Prince and Princess of Wales accompanying the guests to Horse Guards Parade for the official ceremony, was followed by a State Banquet.
During a speech at the event, The King spoke on the close ties between the UK and Qatar.
A very royal Christmas
On a grey December morning, The King and Queen led other members of the Royal Family to the church service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate as they came together to mark Christmas after a year of many challenges.
During his Christmas speech, at the Fitzrovia Chapel in London, The King addressed his cancer diagnosis and expressed his heartfelt thanks for the kindness shown to him during a difficult year. He spoke, too, of the issues faced by many including the unrest in several cities in the UK over the summer as well as the conflicts impacting many areas of the world. And he looked to the future with hope, focused on a brighter 2025.
