King Charles has been declared the second-hardest working royal of 2024, despite ongoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. This year the 76-year-old monarch completed 186 royal engagements, coming second to his sister, Princess Anne, who topped the list with 217 engagements.
The analysis, conducted by Reboot SEO and based on entries in the Court Circular, highlighted that the 74 year old Princess Royal often leads the family in royal duties, regularly surpassing other members of the royal family in the number of engagements undertaken.
King Charles’s cancer diagnosis was publicly disclosed in February, following his medical treatment for an enlarged prostate. He has since been undergoing weekly treatments, with a brief pause during his October visit to Australia and Samoa.
Despite his health challenges, the King’s commitment to royal duties has remained strong, retaining his second-place ranking for the year. Buckingham Palace sources confirmed that his treatment will continue into the new year but is “moving in a positive direction.”
In his final public appearance before Christmas, the King, in his characteristic humour, joked that he was “still alive,” while aides insisted there had been no change to his condition.
The third-hardest working royal was the Duke of Gloucester, who had the largest increase in royal engagements this year, rising from 113 to 126. He was followed by the King’s youngest brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie, who completed 126 and 124 engagements, respectively.
The Queen, who has continued to fulfil her duties while supporting her husband, ranked sixth with 95 engagements. Since King Charles’s cancer diagnosis in May, the Queen has maintained a full schedule of public duties, supporting the monarch’s return to work after his diagnosis. This included attending D-Day commemorations in France, hosting a state visit for the Emperor of Japan, and embarking on a busy tour of Australia and Samoa with the Queen.
A palace source also mentioned that the King wanted to show how it’s possible to continue leading a full life while undergoing cancer treatment, not just after it, quoted by The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales experienced a significant decrease in engagements. The Princess, 42, who completed a course of preventative chemotherapy starting in late February, took a break from public duties until September. She has since gradually returned to a light programme of engagements.
In an emotional video, the Princess shared that the nine-month chemotherapy period had been “incredibly tough” for the family. The Prince of Wales also reduced his workload, undertaking 71 engagements this year, down 35.5 per cent from the previous year. This decrease reflects his role in supporting his wife and their three children.
The Princess praised her husband’s support throughout this difficult time, reflecting on the importance of “simply loving and being loved.” The Princess had carried out just 11 public engagements since her return, while the Prince continued with his royal duties, stepping back from his previous schedule.
Last year, the Princess Royal was also ranked at the top with 214 engagements, while King Charles undertook 181.