We’re only four months in and it’s already proven to be a year like no other.
Two senior royals are undergoing cancer treatment, having bravely revealed their diagnoses to the world, leaving few working members of the Firm to undertake bread and butter engagements.
Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have increased their duties and taken a more prominent role.
But it is the Queen who has stepped up to become the public face of the monarchy and it is only fitting that she will be by her husband’s side for his first public-facing duty in almost four months.
She has worked tirelessly to support both her husband and the crown this year, and will undoubtedly be overjoyed by the news that Charles’s medics are “very encouraged” by the progress made so far.
Charles has spent the months since his diagnosis dialling down his workload as he focused on his treatment and recovery.
He carried on with constitutional functions, such as reading his stately papers and holding private audiences, but he put a halt to public-facing duties.
This hasn’t come easy to the workaholic King, who over the decades has built a reputation as someone who is deeply committed to his duties.
Known for working through the night and eating dinner in the early hours to ensure the job gets done, Charles has been frustrated not to be able to throw himself completely into his work this year.
This was plain for all to see on Easter Sunday, when he busied over to crowds, keen to say hello and get back out there.
Meeting people is the part of the job he loves the most, and there is no doubt that he’s looking forward to attending a cancer hospital on Tuesday to hear other people’s experiences of the disease.
While the King is buoyed by the progress of his treatment, the nation will be breathing a sigh of relief that their monarch is showing positive signs of recovery.
