Charles Works Through Cancer and Steals Title of Hardest-Working Royal of 2025 From Family Member
Prince Edward, ranked third with a total of 313 appearances, followed by his wife, Duchess Sophie, who completed 235 duties.
King Charles reportedly was the most active working royal this year. He surpassed other senior members of the royal family despite undergoing treatment for his cancer. Newly analyzed figures from the Court Circular show that the monarch led the pack in public duties; his commitment to his royal role has remained resolute.
Charles is closing 2025 with what many are calling a crowning achievement. On December 22, The Mirror reported that the King carried out more official royal engagements than any other working royal this year. The findings were based on studies recorded in The Court Circular through December 18.
For those unversed, the Court Circular serves as the official record of past royal engagements for working members of the royal family. It listed a total of 2,458 engagements for 2025. The monarch accounted for 535 of those engagements. This achievement marks a notable shift within the family as Charles dethroned his sister, Princess Anne. The latter has long been known as the hardest-working royal, based on informal counts of the same record.
The milestone stands out given Charles’ ongoing battle with cancer. Buckingham Palace had announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment, though the specific type was not revealed. It is understood that he continued receiving treatment since the announcement. This year, on December 12, Charles shared 'good news,' confirming that his treatment will be significantly reduced in the new year. The King said in his speech for Stand Up To Cancer show on Channel 4, “Today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to 'doctors' orders', my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.” This possibly means the number of engagements he takes up next year will only grow.
As for Anne, she secured second place by fulfilling 478 engagements in 2025. Meanwhile, Prince Edward, ranked third with a total of 313 appearances, followed by his wife, Duchess Sophie, who completed 235 duties. Queen Camilla was in the fifth position with 228 engagements, while Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, came sixth with 212. Prince William ranked seventh with 202 engagements, just above Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, with 113. Meanwhile, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, achieved a notable milestone, with 77 appearances at age 90.
Kate Middleton also made it to the top 10 with 68 engagements. In January 2025, she confirmed being in remission following her own cancer diagnosis. She had announced the same in March 2024 and reduced her royal appearances to better focus on her health. Toward the end of this year, however, she has fallen back to her old schedule, playing a significant role during the US and German state visits.
