<p id=”par-1_45″>The “atmosphere” behind palace walls is reportedly “gloomy” amid a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/king-charles-cancer-diagnosis-shocks-royal-family-two-days-ago-everything-seemed-fine.html/”>tumultuous start to 2024</a>. Commentators say the British <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/royal-family/”>royal family</a>’s doing their best to keep going with a “business as usual” attitude. However, it’s not quite working as these are “unprecedented” times for the monarchy. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-2024-s-not-off-to-a-good-start-for-the-british-royal-family”>2024’s not off to a good start for the British royal family </h2>
<p id=”par-2_38″>Things haven’t gone smoothly for British royals ever since 2023 ended and 2024 began. On Jan. 17, 2024, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-hospitalized-kensington-palace-shares-few-details-about-planned-abdominal-surgery.html/”>Kensington Palace announced Kate Middleton had undergone a “planned” abdominal surgery</a> one day earlier. Furthermore, she’d be recovering through March. </p>
<p id=”par-3_39″>Another health update just 90 minutes later came amid the headlines about the Princess of Wales’ hospitalization. Buckingham Palace announced her father-in-law, King Charles III, would enter the hospital to undergo a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. </p>
<p id=”par-4_41″>During said procedure, as the palace announced on Feb. 6, 2024, doctors found an unspecified type of cancer for which the king is still being treated. (<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/royal-prince-harry-short-visit-king-charles-author-says.html/”>Prince Hary flew to England for a short visit</a> with his father after the announcement). </p>
<p id=”par-5_17″>Finally, in late February, Lady Gabriella’s husband, Thomas Kingston, died by suicide at the age of 45. </p>
<p id=”par-6_34″>Amid it all, drama over Kate’s recovery has continued to play out online. After conspiracy theories, including one about a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middletons-recovery-sparked-ludicrous-coma-conspiracy-theory-aides-flatly-denied.html/”>medically induced coma</a> and much speculation and memes, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kensington-palace-slammed-protecting-kate-middleton-better-paparazzi-photo-surfaces.html/”>paparazzi took a photo of Kate</a>. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-multiple-shocks-to-the-system-have-created-a-gloomy-atmosphere-among-the-royal-family”>The multiple ‘shocks to the system’ have created a ‘gloomy’ atmosphere among the royal family</h2>
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<p id=”par-7_35″>According to <a href=”https://okmagazine.com/p/royal-family-wants-carry-out-business-as-usual-amid-health-woes/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>OK! Magazine</em></a>, the royal family’s trying to keep going with “business as usual.” Although, there is a gloomy atmosphere behind the scenes,” Richard Eden, a royal expert, said on the <em>Palace Confidential</em> podcast. </p>
<p id=”par-8_36″>Everything, from King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and Kate’s surgery to Kingston’s death, will have likely caused a “number of shocks to the system,” royal expert Jo Elvin added. As such, the royals are in “unprecedented” times. </p>
<p id=”par-9_23″>Perhaps maybe even on par with Queen Elizabeth II’s “annus horribilis” — Latin for “horrible year” — in 1992? Only time will tell. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-william-s-currently-the-most-senior-british-royal-carrying-out-duties”>William’s currently the most senior British royal carrying out duties </h2>
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<p id=”par-10_31″>William is taking the reins — or should we say crown — at the moment. The 41-year-old heir to the throne is currently carrrying out duties as the most senior royal. </p>
<p id=”par-11_23″>According to <em>GB News</em> anchor Cameron Walker, the father of three will “keep calm and [carry] on” despite the past few months’ events. </p>
<p id=”par-12_44″>William’s also reportedly the only one of the royal family’s highest-ranking royals working for the time being. The reason is that his father, King Charles, and stepmother, Queen Camilla, are <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/queen-camillas-time-off-good-sign-king-charles-cancer-treatment-royal-author-explains.html/”>taking a break</a> before engagements pick up again with the annual Commonwealth Day Service.</p>
<p id=”par-13_28″>Meanwhile, William’s wife, Kate, continues to recover from surgery and isn’t expected to return to duties until after the Easter holiday or March 31, 2024, at the earliest.</p>
<p id=”par-14_37″><strong><em>How to get help:</em></strong><em> In the U.S., call the</em><a href=”https://988lifeline.org/”><em> </em><em>988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline</em></a><em> by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free</em><a href=”https://www.crisistextline.org/”><em> </em><em>Crisis Text Line</em></a><em>.</em></p>