A right royal & wrong year TOURS, TRIUMPHS & TRIALS

From praying with popes to punishing a prince, Charles got the job done

- Judy Kean

After a 2024 that rocked the royals to the core, following the cancer diagnoses of the King and the Princess of Wales, a far more settled 2025 was on the family's wish list.

Happily, there were no more serious illnesses, but this year brought its fair share of drama, largely thanks to the former Prince Andrew. Here's a look back at the royal family in 2025...

The King and Queen

As far as we're aware, he's still having treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, but that didn't stop the King from taking on a busy schedule of official duties, including trips overseas and hosting international leaders at home.

Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he made two visits to the Vatican to meet with two popes - the late Pope Francis in April, just 11 days before the pontiff's death - and Pope Leo XIV in October. Charles and Leo made history by becoming the first British monarch and pope to pray together in more than 500 years. Other international trips included visits to Canada and Poland.

His Majesty was in fine form when he hosted lavish state visits for some of the world's most powerful politicians, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the presidents of France and the US, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Charles three times this year, including at his private home, Sandringham, in March.

Behind closed doors, the King, 77, had a stressful year dealing with the “Andrew problem”. His younger brother’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the sexual assault claims made against him by Virginia Giuffre have continued to cause massive issues. Finally, after Andrew gave up his Duke of York title, Charles stripped him of his Prince title and evicted him from his home of more than 20 years, Royal Lodge.