King Charles is gearing up for a positive 2025 (Image: Getty)
A “positive” is gearing up for a return to full Royal duties next year after his gruelling cancer battle.
The monarch, 76, who joked earlier about how he is ‘still alive,’ is energised to do his duty and travel the world promoting Britain.
He will continue undergoing treatment but Palace officials are optimistic that his prognosis is heading in a “very positive direction”.
A source said: “The intention is for the monarch to return to a full programme of public duties next year. Planning for the first half of the year involves an exciting mix of national and international events”.
The monarch is said to be thoroughly looking forward to a brighter and busier 2025, having thrown himself into work in the lead-up to Christmas.
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This month he hosted a successful state visit, conducted seven royal engagements, two investiture ceremonies, held two Privy Council meetings and dozens of audiences – all while continuing his constitutional duties such as meeting with the Prime Minister and going through his state red boxes.
His workload often doesn’t compute with a man in his seventies who continues to undergo cancer treatment.
But Charles wants to keep busy, spend time with members of the public, and show the nation that he is well and looking forward to the future.
Dickie Arbiter, who served as the late Queen’s press spokesman from 1998 until 2000, hailed the King’s determination to be seen throughout his cancer ordeal.
He said that while it had been proposed that the King should discreetly travel for his cancer treatment, Charles insisted he went in the State Bentley.
The former communications secretary added that this year has been about showing the public it’s “business as usual” – something that courtiers will build on next year.
Mr Arbiter said: “The takeaway from 2024 is business as usual, carry on as normal. We’re not going anywhere. We are well. We’re dealing with a problem.
“It’s not going to go away. I think he [the King] is probably pragmatic enough to realise that his treatment might go on for a lot longer than it has been already. But the monarchy is alive and well.”
King Charles delights in spending time with the public (Image: Getty)
The expert continued to note that the King has a number of people he can lean on for support if he needs to, noting that it was the Queen who “kept the show on the road” at the start of the year.
Mr Arbiter said: “The King is ably supported, not just by his wife, but also by his heir, , in the fullness of time by Catherine, by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie and Edward, and by Anne.
“And even though it is slimmed down, and probably a lot slimmer than he originally expected when he first made that utterance when he turned 70 six years ago, it’s working.
“It’s working to the benefit not just of the monarchy as an institution, but to the benefit of the country.”
It has become ever more apparent this year just how much the King thrives off doing his duty.
“He always was a people person when he was the Prince of Wales,” Mr Arbiter said. “And he’s just extended this as monarch.”
The King often makes a beeline to speak to wellwishers and runs over schedule because he’s spent so long chatting to guests.
The Royal Family are focused on ‘business as normal’ (Image: Getty)
Next year he will continue to undergo treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, with a source saying: “The King’s treatment cycle will continue in its very positive direction into the start of 2025.”
The Palace remains upbeat about his treatment, as evidenced by the encouraging news that Their Majesties are planning to undergo tours in the Spring and Autumn.
The welcome news came after their successful tour of Australia and Samoa in October.
The nine-day tour saw the King and Queen pack in 36 engagements but a Palace source said Charles “genuinely thrived” on the trip and despite its demands, it had been “the perfect tonic”.
“We’re now working on a pretty normal looking, full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on,” the palace aide said.
Italy and India are mooted as potential destinations, but the Foreign Office will ultimately decide where the King and Queen will go.
Yesterday, Charles and Camilla undertook their final royal engagement before breaking for Christmas, where they will be joined by members of the Royal Family on the Sandringham estate.
Travelling to Walthamstow to hail community spirit, the royal couple met local community volunteers, young people, emergency services, and faith representatives.
King Charles will next be seen on Christmas Day (Image: Getty)
And when Harvinder Rattan, a Sikh faith representative asked after his health, the king jokingly replied: “I’m still alive.”
During the visit Camilla donated 25 toys to Citizens UK, to be passed on to children living in asylum hotels, and a donation to a food bank was left on the King’s behalf.
The donation included Waitrose cartons of long-life milk, Christmas puddings, custard and mince pies.
Outside, the King enjoyed a rendition by A Little Choir of Joy, a children’s choir made up of 8 to 12-year-olds from across schools in the borough.
He went to speak to the youngsters and said: “I hope you have a Happy Christmas. And also to your poor teachers.”
Charles went to speak to dozens of well-wishers who turned out while the Queen waited in the car as it was too cold.
Thousands of residents in Waltham Forest held a peaceful anti-racism protest following the nationwide disorder after the stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed party in Southport.
Waltham Forest was officially recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary by the national charity City of Sanctuary in December 2023.
The next time we see the king will be on Christmas Day, where he will be joined by members of the Royal Family for a morning church service at St Mary Magdalene and greet wellwishers.
His pre-recorded speech will come at 3pm, where he is set to focus on the importance of family and togetherness and reflect on a testing year.