Prince William and Kate Middleton are planning to spend a “quiet Christmas together” in a bid to “heal” their marriage, sources claim.
RadarOnline.com can reveal that the royals plan to use the festive period to rest and reflect after a tough year, which has been overshadowed by Kate’s battle with cancer, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s respective health problems, plus concerns about their relationship.
A source told RadarOnline.com: “Kate and William have had what the Queen called an ‘annus horribilis’.
‘She has been going through a health battle and their marriage was once again rocked by rumors that Wills was cheating.
‘It’s been devastating for them both, and for their children, especially with King Charles battling cancer and Queen Camilla being ill, and the drama with Prince Harry.
“This Christmas will be a much-needed time for them to repair their marriage. They just want some quiet time together and a drama-free 2025, and they pray that the family gets healthier.”
William and Kate will spend their quiet Christmas at their Sandringham Estate with three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
It will be Kate’s first Christmas since her battle with cancer was revealed.
King Charles’ former butler, Grant Harrold, said: “Last Christmas she was probably aware that something wasn’t quite right, so I imagine it was quite a tough Christmas.”
Kate underwent abdominal surgery in mid-January 2023 and was later diagnosed with cancer.
She was treated with chemotherapy and has since recovered and returned to work.
Harrol added: “(This year will) be more positive, based on what we’ve been told.
“It will be just like any other Christmas, aimed at the young family. They are very family oriented, as was the late Queen, so that will be their focus.”
He also revealed that the royal couple and their children are likely to arrive at Sandringham on the day before Christmas Eve and spend the holidays there.
Kensington Palace has dismissed the ongoing gossip as “completely wrong and untrue”, with an insider adding: “It’s devastating for Kate that these rumors won’t go away. Especially now that she is sick.”
In his explosive book Endgame, royal expert Omid Scobie revealed that Rose “had dinner once or twice with William in Norfolk while Kate was away” and that the princess was “grateful that a good friend and neighbor like Rose was there to entertain William” .
The insider clarified that their tête-à-têtes were purely platonic: “William has been meeting with Rose Hanbury. They are friends, and he thinks it’s devilish when people suggest otherwise.”