King crowned second-hardest working royal of 2024, despite cancer diagnosis

The King has been named as the second-hardest working royal this year, despite his ongoing cancer treatment.

King Charles, 76, has only come second to the Princess Royal in the number of engagements undertaken in 2024, according to an analysis.

It comes amid the monarch’s treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, which was announced to the public in February after he received medical care for an enlarged prostate.

He has undergone weekly treatment ever since his diagnosis, barring a brief pause during his visit to Australia and Samoa in October.

However, despite the illness Charles has retained his ranking of second place, having taken part in 186 royal engagements, while his sister, Princess Anne, was first, with 217 engagements.

The research was conducted by the company, Reboot SEO, and is based on entries published in the Court Circular.

The Princess Royal, 74, is often named the most industrious member of the family, frequently undertaking a significantly higher number of jobs than others.

This year marked an even larger workload for Anne, however, after she did a number of jobs on behalf of the King.

The analysis comes as Buckingham Palace sources confirmed that Charles’s cancer treatment will continue into next year but is “moving in a positive direction.”

During his final public outing before Christmas, the monarch joked that he is “still alive” as aides insisted there had been no change to his condition.

The third hardest-working royal was named as the Duke of Gloucester, who had the biggest increase in royal engagements this year, from 113 to 126.

He was followed by the King’s youngest brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie, who did 126 and 124 engagements respectively.

Queen Camilla, who has continued with a full programme of public duties in the wake of her husband’s diagnosis, came in sixth with 95 engagements.

She has ploughed on with a full programme of royal engagements – the bread and butter of a royal diary – while supporting the King throughout this year.

Charles’s return to public-facing duties came three months after he was diagnosed with cancer in early May.

Since his return to a busier work schedule, he has travelled to France for D-Day commemorations, hosted an incoming state visit for the Emperor of Japan, and undertaken a packed tour to Australia and Samoa with the Queen.

At the time, a palace source said the monarch wanted to demonstrate how it is possible to continue leading a full life while having treatment for cancer, “not just after it”.

The King had continued with his state duties of red boxes, audiences and Privy Council meetings at home since his diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales saw the largest decrease in royal engagements, as the Wales family dealt with Catherine’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment of preventative chemotherapy from late February.

In September, it was announced that the Princess, 42, had finished her chemotherapy, but she said in an emotional and intimate video that the nine-month period had been “incredibly tough for us as a family”.

She began a gradual return to a light programme of public engagements in late September after having been away from public duties since Christmas Day, but she said her focus remains on staying cancer-free.

In total, the analysis showed the Princess has carried out 11 public engagements since her return, while William has undertaken 71 this year as he stepped back from a full workload of duties to support his wife and their three children.

The Princess has hailed William’s support, and said the time has reminded the couple to “be grateful for the simple yet important things in life…of simply loving and being loved”.

The Prince’s number of engagements decreased by 35.5 per cent from the same analysis of the previous year, in which he undertook 92.

Last year, the analysis also ranked Princess Anne at the top of the table, with 214 royal engagements, while the King took part in 181.