After breaking the news of her cancer diagnosis in March, Princess Kate retreated from the spotlight for most of 2024; in September, she announced that she had completed chemotherapy and would slowly return to her official royal duties. Throughout the past year, Kate Middleton has been supported by those around her, and two people in particular have changed her life, royal experts say.

“As William said, a year like the one they have endured must have been brutal for the whole family,” former BBC royal correspondent Jenny Bond told OK! magazine (via the Mirror). 'But it seems clear that the family has united, they are very close and seem happy to be out and about together again.'

Referring to the two families behind the 2024 Princess of Wales, Bond told the magazine, “I think we should also give a shout out to Carole and Michael Middleton, who were definitely an important part of the family this year, both practically and emotionally. William and Catherine would have been strongly with them in their darkest days.”

Bond also noted Carol and Michael's close bond with Kate and William's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Bond told the magazine, “As you can see from Prince Louis' card on the tree at Carol Services, grandma and grandpa are the best playmates for their grandchildren, playing games and working shifts with them.”

As for whether George, Charlotte, and Louis will be in the spotlight next year, Bond said, “I don't think there is any reason to doubt that we will see more of them in 2025, although their parents may make the occasional public appearance to gently acclimate them to life in the public eye I'm sure they will.”

Ultimately, royal experts believe that Kate and William found strength in their close family as they dealt with difficult health news behind the scenes. Bond said, “I think William and Catherine should be rightly proud of their children and proud of themselves for leading them through this incredibly difficult year.”