The Prince and Princess of Wales’ debut in 2026 could not be more different from the start of 2025, and it seems like there will be even more change ahead.
What a difference a year makes – just ask the Prince and Princess of Wales as they look ahead to 2026. Just 12 months ago, William and Kate were coming to the end of a ‘brutal’ period, which had seen them contend with Kate’s cancer diagnosis, her subsequent chemotherapy treatment, as well as support the King through his cancer journey.
But as a brand new year dawns, 2026 is shaping up to be very different for the Wales family – both at work and at home. Kate is now thankfully in remission – something she revealed in early 2025 – they’ve just moved to their new Forest Lodge home, they are fast approaching their milestone 15th wedding anniversary and their oldest child, Prince George, is soon to be a teenager.
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And even though the new year ahead will no doubt see them continue to champion the causes important to them – the couple has hinted of a bold new direction ahead. One of the biggest challenges for the Royal Family – not least future King and Queen William and Kate – is how to keep the monarchy relevant in the 21st century.
It’s clearly something that has played on the couple’s mind with William even admitting of his desire for change in an unprecedented chat with Eugene Levy in a recent episode of his show, The Reluctant Traveller. And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells the Mirror that keeping the monarchy relevant and laying the foundations for the future in the Prince and Princess of Wales roles is key.
She states that they must always have the chance to become King and Queen in the near future. And it must be a little intimidating. However, I believe they are currently working to maximize the effectiveness of their responsibilities as Prince and Princess of Wales. Both of them have important causes and campaigns that still need your support.
And I believe that those factors, many of which have to do with social issues like homelessness, mental health, and education, will contribute to maintaining the monarchy’s relevance. And William has designated that as one of his most significant duties. Of course, William and Catherine will seek the King’s consent. However, they are largely their own people and, in the end, will stick to the choices they make.
Their bold new approach to using social media, which allows users to post more personal updates, photos, and clips than ever before, seems to be a key component of their new direction for the future. William wrote a remarkable strength in a very rare message to his wife at the beginning of 2025, praising her fortress and how proud he was of her.
Following a heartfelt visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she had been receiving her cancer treatment, Kate also made an announcement on social media that she was in remission. The couple has always shared intimate photos of George, Charlotte, and Louis on their birthdays, but this time with sweet behind-the-scenes footage that was captured.
William appeared in an emotional video in October to express his heartbreaking words to a mother whose husband committed suicide following their young son’s tragic passing. Kate turned content creator this year by releasing a series of videos celebrating the power of the outdoors and offering her own observations on how being outdoors makes her feel.
And in what has become somewhat of a new social media tradition, William and Kate have taken to posting formal snaps on social media before state banquets, dressed up in their finery. In fact, the snap posted on Instagram before the Windsor Castle banquet in honour of Donald Trump during the US state visit to the UK, where Kate wore a show-stopping gold Philippa Lepley gown garnered over 1.3million likes.
Jennie continued, “I believe they will keep using their social media strategy because they are aware that it has a wider audience than many other forms of communication these days, especially among young people.” There will also be a significant change in their home life while William and Kate continue to take their brave new path at work.
The couple’s children all attend the same Lambrook school, which is close to their Windsor home, and have recently formed a close-knit community. The trio attend daycare, and William and Kate appear to be there to help them with their after-school activities and help them with their sports games.
But as George turns 13 in July and enrolls in a brand-new secondary school in September, he may even be eligible for board. The couple are keeping their cards close to hand when choosing the school he will attend, with his father’s former school Eton and Marlborough College’s Marlborough College reportedly being the top choices. George and his parents were previously seen visiting Eton College, whereas Marlborough College is regarded as one of the top boarding schools in the UK, offering both boys and girls.
And in Jennie’s opinion, this significant change could turn out to be one of the biggest, most significant changes in the coming year. She continued, “I believe that their biggest family event will be when they will suddenly have a teenager in their midst.” And that can present a whole host of challenges, as many parents are aware of. As George enters secondary school and possibly away from home in July, he will turn 13 and begin a new chapter in his life. And for them all, that will require a lot of revision. “
The prince and princess have consistently stated that they will always prioritize their families, prioritize their children, and restrict family time, especially since Kate’s cancer diagnosis. When William and Kate skipped the traditional Easter Sunday church service in Windsor, Windsor, forgoed the traditional Easter Sunday service, and did so with the King’s permission. This is the best example of this over the past twelve months.
Meanwhile for William, recent months have also seen him and his father faced with the dilemma of how to handle the scandal that engulfed the former prince Andrew. The disgraced former Duke of York has now been stripped of all of his titles following more revelations over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein – with William fully supporting the drastic move taken by the King.
And Jennie continued, “It seems like the King is completely in favor of their approach to a work/life balance at this point in their children’s lives. However, I believe that as Catherine recovers from cancer, all will be well and that she will continue to perform public duties.
They will both be hoping that Andrew will maintain his low profile and that no more scandals will emerge. On their 15th wedding anniversary in April, they will have plenty to celebrate if that proves to be the case and both the King and Catherine are still recovering.
