Why 2026 Is Shaping up to Be a Major Year for King Charles and the Royal Family
From George turning 13 to King Charles' improving health, 2026 is said to be a year of major personal milestones for different family members.
The last few years for the royal family saw them face health battles, scandals, and public scrutiny, but they seem to be entering 2026 with a sense of reset. The year ahead is said to bring some major personal milestones for many family members. From King Charles’ recent health update to Prince William and Princess Kate returning to public life after a ‘difficult year,’ the family appears to be moving forward.
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William had previously described 2024 as one of the hardest years of his life following the cancer diagnoses of Kate and Charles. In January 2025, the Princess of Wales shared that she had completed chemotherapy and was in remission. Slowly, she returned to work and ended the year on a good note, carrying out about 68 royal engagements, compared to her 11 in 2024. These numbers are said to increase in the coming year, as Kate was seen taking on a significant role during the state visits this year.
The King also has a reason to celebrate — in a pre-recorded message for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer broadcast, the monarch shared that his “cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.” He called the update a 'personal blessing' and praised the incredible advances in cancer care in recent years. While he did not specifically use the term ‘remission,’ Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the King’s recovery has definitely reached a positive stage, though the details regarding what type of cancer he has remain unclear.
Other than the health improvements, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have shifted to their new ‘forever home,’ Forest Lodge, hoping for a fresh start. George is set to play a bigger role in 2026 when he turns 13. He is expected to begin secondary school later that year. While no official announcement has been made by the Palace, Eton College and Marlborough College remain the leading possibilities. The visibility of the young Prince has also increased in recent years. The most prominent example of this being when he filled in for his father at the Festival of Remembrance. William was traveling back from Brazil after his Earthshot Prize, but his son surely made up for his absence.
Across the Atlantic, even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have big things planned for 2026. They recently rebranded their charity, Archewell Foundation, to Archewell Philanthropies and are said to be working to widen its global impact. Along with this, the couple will continue their work with Netflix on several projects. Recently, it was reported that the two are set to produce the film adaptation of the novel The Wedding Date.
Traveling and family time will also be a priority in 2026. In September, while visiting Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited the Prince and Princess of Wales to make a family trip to Down Under. The couple had last visited the country in 2014 when George was still a toddler. The coming year also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. Though Charles is expected to visit the US in April, the schedule is still in its early planning stages. All in all, the new year is definitely shaping up to be a significant one for the royal family.
