Royal Family Christmas: King Charles continues cancer treatment – and Prince Andrew stirs up more controversy

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The royal family gathers for Christmas celebrations. But amid the celebrations, there will be lingering concerns about King Charles’ health, with his cancer treatment ongoing – and a notable absence, sparked by a high-profile controversy involving an alleged Chinese spy.

News emerged on Friday that Charles, who was diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer early this year, will continue treatment in 2025.

A Buckingham Palace source said: “His treatment has been moving in a positive direction and, as a managed case, the course of treatment will continue into next year.”

The palace source said there had been no change in Charles’ health and that news that his treatment would continue into 2025 did not represent any significant update.

But his schedule before Christmas was an indication of his determination to keep busy. It concluded on Friday with a visit to the London borough of Walthamstow, which organized a major counter-protest in August in response to nationwide riots.

During the visit, Charles was asked how he was doing. He replied jokingly: I am still alive. Sky News reported.

Royal officials are “remaining very tight-lipped” about Charles’ cancer, but “the fact that he is still participating in public engagements means that his health is at least on the decline,” says Justin Vovk, a royal commentator and professor of sessional history at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. “Pretty much under control.”

For Charles, a continued focus on carrying out public duties appears to be a top priority.

“For the royal family, this is part of their core values,” Vovk said in an interview on Friday.

“The mission is to get out and meet people and interact with people.”

It’s been a tough year for the royal family – Prince William described it as “brutal” His father, Charles, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, were diagnosed with cancer.

Katherine said in late summer that her preventive chemotherapy for an undisclosed type of cancer had ended.

Since then, she has gradually returned to public duties, with limited appearances at high-profile events.

Catherine announced the end of her treatment via a video clip, and a picture from that video appeared on her family’s Christmas card this year.

It also hosted its fourth annual Christmas service at Westminster Abbey in London on 6 December. The service will be broadcast on television in the UK on Christmas Eve.

William, Catherine and their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – are expected to celebrate Christmas with other members of the royal family at Charles Sandringham Estate in north-east London. They were not present at a pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace this week According to media reports They were already at their country house near Sandringham.

The Christmas morning walk of family members to and from church is closely monitored to see who is or is not present, as well as who is walking next to whom and what that might say about relationships within the family.

This year, one notable absence is expected – Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew.

British media reported this week that Andrew will not be at SandringhamAnd he He did not attend the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace middle Allegations of a close friendship with an alleged Chinese spy.

It is the latest example of the controversy generated by his associations. His reputation sank like a stone AHe withdrew from his public royal duties after a disastrous BBC interview in 2019 regarding his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

But he has continued to attend high-profile royal family events, so his absence from Christmas events this year was notable.

However, this absence is not surprising, said Vovk, who sees it as a family decision.

“A lot of people, myself included, expected that since (Queen Elizabeth’s) death, we would see Andrew less and less,” Vovk said.

“It’s definitely happened a little slower than I expected, but given all the controversy, given all the drama surrounding Prince Andrew and the very clear desire of the King and the Prince of Wales to stay away from… that tainted scandal, as the Royal Family has always done… I’m not surprised.” At least not including him on the list.”

Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children, who live in California, are also expected to miss the royal Christmas.

Harry and Meghan I released a Christmas card this week Which included a photo of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet running towards their parents. It was a rare public viewing of the image of children kept out of the public eye.

“When we look at Harry’s upbringing and we look at the undeniable trauma that he went through, this is a natural decision for me,” Vovk said, noting that the two wanted to protect their children from excessive media scrutiny.

In the card, Vovk also saw an effort to “deliberately control or craft an image around them as a happy family, a united couple, and one that is more accessible to the public.”

He also saw a contrast with the photo on the card of William and Catherine.

“This is one of the most informal and relaxed family photos of any generation of (the royal family) that I think we’ve ever seen.”

The royal family’s Christmas gathering at Sandringham is expected to be a big affair with Prince William Pointing out that 45 people are likely to attend.

Christmas is an important time for the royal family, says Toronto-based author and historian Caroline Harris.

“Their Christmas traditions date back to the reign of Queen Victoria, including Christmas trees popularized by Prince Albert and a focus on multiple generations of royals enjoying a family celebration together,” Harris said via email last week.

“The royal family opens presents on Christmas Eve, following traditions from Germany, the birthplace of Prince Albert, and Denmark, the birthplace of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII.”

Harris said royal marriages brought new family Christmas traditions, including Catherine serving Queen Elizabeth a homemade sauce from the Middleton family recipe on her first Christmas with the family.

“Although Christmas is an important family occasion, it is also one of the rare times when the King speaks directly to the public through a televised Christmas message.”

Queen Elizabeth wanted large family gatherings at Christmas, and there was speculation that under Charles, who favored a working royal family, there would be smaller get-togethers at Christmas.

But this does not prove that this is the case. This year, new guests are expected, in the presence of Queen Camilla’s son from her first marriage, Tom Parker Bowles.

Parker Bowles’ presence was no surprise to Vovk, who noted that the makeup of the royal family is no different from that of many other families.

“I think a lot of us sometimes forget that the Royal Family is a blended family, that the Queen is a mother and a grandmother, and that the Christmas gathering at Sandringham, even though it is a royal event, is still technically a family Christmas tradition.” He said.

“So why can’t Camilla’s children and grandchildren be there with their mother and grandmother for the holidays?”

It should also come as no surprise, Vovk suggested, that year after year, there are changes to the royal family’s Christmas traditions.

“Over time, these small ritual changes or ceremonial changes lead to larger shifts that are very gradual without rocking the boat too much.”

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