It is a season of celebration for the tight-knit Welsh royal family, which celebrates the birthdays of two of its three children in just 10 days (Prince Louis on April 23 and Princess Charlotte on May 2) and the wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales on April 29. With the cancer diagnoses of King Charles, Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Wales, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, the suicide of Thomas Kingston, and media speculation about Kate's whereabouts until her diagnosis was made public on March 22, 2024 was a very difficult year for the royal family.

Of Kate, royal writer Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly that "she remains a ray of light in what is often a stifling and suffocating environment within the palace walls," and that the past year of William and Kate's marriage, due to her health concerns, "has been tumultuous," he noted. He added that their 13th wedding anniversary earlier this week was "bittersweet" for the couple, and that "when they celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary by releasing a photo of a big smile on a bicycle, no one could have imagined that a year later both Kate and the King would be battling cancer," Andersen He said.

Despite this year's difficulties, William and Kate seem to be navigating their new normal as best they can, keeping the "tradition of staying close to home" on their April 29 wedding anniversary. Andersen told the magazine that the couple usually exchanges "gifts with feeling." For example," last year, William gave Kate "a diamond ring that belonged to his mother, Princess Diana, and a replica of Kate's wedding bouquet," Andersen said. In return, Kate gave William "a framed sketch of the couple that he had drawn as a student at (the University of) St. Andrews."

William and Kate have not publicly disclosed what gifts they gave each other on their most recent wedding anniversary, but Andersen said he believes they would be "equally personal."

What William and Kate did to commemorate the day itself is so far unknown, but Andersen expects that they will celebrate with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and while many couples do not include their children in their anniversary plans, since Kate's health scare, the five He noted that while many couples do not include their children in their anniversary plans, almost every event has become a family affair in the Welsh family of five since Kate's health scare.

"More than ever, William and Kate have every reason to include their children in everything and keep the mood as upbeat as possible," Andersen told Us Weekly.

"Despite the difficulties, Kate can't help but be resolutely upbeat around George, Charlotte, and Louis."

Regarding the Crown Prince and Princess, Robert Jobson, another royal writer, recently told "Hello" that throughout this season "there is no doubt that William has been Catherine's rock" and that of the couple "he has been a constant in her life and she has been his center." He added.