Kate Middleton and Prince William's reflection on 'brutal' 2024 features a surprise nod to Taylor Swift
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: In a poignant close to a challenging year, Prince William and Kate Middleton shared their favorite moments of 2024, sharing a glimpse into the year's highs and lows.
Despite a year William described as “probably the hardest year in my life,” the Prince and Princess of Wales found happiness in family milestones, royal engagements, and even a nod to Taylor Swift.
A year of resilience for the royal family
Both 42, Prince William and Kate Middleton faced immense personal trials in 2024, as they navigated the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis in March and King Charles’ ongoing treatment for his own diagnosis, announced in February.
Yet, their shared New Year’s Eve Instagram post highlighted moments of strength, love, and community.
Captioned “2024 ✅ Happy New Year! Wishing you all a wonderful 2025 ✨,” the post wished followers a joyful 2025, with a simple green checkmark and star emoji symbolizing their perseverance through a challenging year.
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Two photos from Kate Middleton's moving September 9 video, where she announced the completion of her chemotherapy, opened their 2024 highlight reel.
One image depicted the couple embracing their children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—underscoring the family’s unity.
Another showed William and Kate sharing a lighthearted moment in the Norfolk countryside, a scene filmed in August that reflected their enduring bond during adversity.
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The Wales family’s highlight reel wasn't complete without a nod to their meeting with Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour stop at Wembley Stadium in London.
A backstage selfie of Swift with William, George, and Charlotte was juxtaposed against a performance shot, capturing the joy of the encounter.
How Prince William and Kate Middleton's resilience shined in a challenging year
Despite the difficulties, Prince William and Kate Middleton continued their royal engagements with unwavering dedication.
Highlights included the Earthshot Prize Awards for which William visited Cape Town in November and championed environmental innovation.
Their togetherness at Christmas where Kate's annual carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 6 showcased her commitment to fostering community spirit.
Among the carousel of photos and videos was also Kate’s first public appearance of the year in June after her diagnosis.
One standout moment came during the couple’s visit to Southport, England, in October.
The pair showed compassion following a tragic knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class over the summer.
The carousel ended with a heartfelt tribute to Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old photographer diagnosed with a rare cancer in January.
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Kate hugged Hatton during an October investiture at Windsor Castle, and the image became a symbol of the couple’s compassion.
Hatton’s death in November added a somber note, yet her inclusion highlighted the impact of small, meaningful connections.
Prince William opens up about a 'dreadful' 2024
The roundup marked the end of a year that Prince William openly described as “dreadful” during a candid BBC interview on November 7: “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” he admitted.
"I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it's been, yeah, it's been brutal,” William shared in a vulnerable November interview.
As for his father, sources revealed, “His treatment has been moving in a positive direction and as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year.”
As reported by People, King Charles’ cancer treatment was reported to continue into the New Year, but it is now moving “in a very positive direction,” as confirmed by palace sources.
