On January 9, Kate Middleton celebrates her 42nd birthday. It’s a welcome milestone: a week after she turned 41, the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery, in which doctors discovered cancerous cells. It was just the beginning of an annus horribilis for the Windsors. That same month, King Charles was also diagnosed with the disease. (Prince William called 2024 the “hardest year” of his life.)
So it’s safe to say that, for the royals, the only place for 2025 to go is up. But what exactly does it have in store? What we know so far, below.
The Return of Meghan Markle to Television
Originally a star on USA Network’s Suits, Meghan Markle quit acting after getting engaged to Prince Harry in 2018. Seven years and one explosive decision to leave the royal family later, she makes her official return to Hollywood with With Love, Meghan on Netflix. A lifestyle show where Meghan welcomes guests like Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, and Alice Waters into her garden and kitchen, it aims to position Markle as a wellness and entertaining guru à la Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart.
“Meghan reveals how even the most minute details can help add beauty to our lives and, most importantly, help bring people together,” reads the official description from the streaming service. “Whether it’s preparing take-home gifts for guests or adding a sprinkle of edible flowers to breakfast, it’s truly the thought that counts.”
A New School for Prince George
Currently, 11-year-old Prince George attends Lambrook School outside of Windsor, along with his siblings Charlotte and Louis. However, it only teaches pupils from ages three to 13—meaning the Wales family is actively searching for where their eldest son will further his education.
Rumors are swirling around what school it will be. Prince William and Prince Harry famously attended Eton College, whereas Kate Middleton was a pupil at Marlborough College. If the British press is to be believed, the latter is the frontrunner. Marlborough, unlike Eton, is co-ed, which means George can later be joined by Charlotte and Louis—and the school’s royal alumni also include Princess Eugenie.
The Sussexes Back on Social Media
Rumors began to circulate in 2024 that Meghan Markle had a new Instagram account, @meghan. However, the handle stayed dormant for months. Then, on January 1, there was the first sign of life: Markle posted a video, filmed by Prince Harry, of herself on the beach in Montecito. Days later, she shared an emotional announcement that her beloved beagle, Guy, had died. “I have cried too many tears to count—the type of tears that make you get in the shower with the absurd hope that the running water on your face will somehow make you not feel them, or pretend they’re not there,” she wrote.
