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Welcome to my Royal Newsletter.
The next 12 months may be defining in very different ways for the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex.
If anyone was in any doubt of the significance Meghan attaches to the coming year, she made a long-awaited return to Instagram yesterday, with a video in which Harry filmed her on a beach writing ‘2025’ in the sand with her foot.
But it’s an important year for Catherine, too. It will see her return to public life with a programme of royal engagements, albeit one that will probably be a slimmed-down version of her schedule before her health problems.
‘Catherine wants every day to count,’ a friend of her family tells me.
‘She has always been passionate about helping others. Now, she has an even greater sense of urgency.’
Meanwhile, 2025 will be the year in which we discover if the Duchess of Sussex can fulfil one of her greatest ambitions: to become a screen star.
Meghan achieved a degree of celebrity as a cast member of US legal drama Suits, but the release of a Netflix cookery and lifestyle show this year gives her the chance to become a bona fide star.
Meghan and Prince Harry’s Netflix deal expires this year and, if it is to be renewed, the duchess may have to prove that she can be a success without riding on Harry’s coat-tails.
Her television ambitions highlight the difference between her priorities and those of our future Queen.
For Meghan, 2025 is about making money; for Catherine, it’s about making a difference to good causes.
Yes, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will also undertake work for charity this year but, since they quit royal duties back in 2020, Meghan has had her eyes set on superstardom.
This ambition suffered an early reversal when her solo podcast series, Archetypes, was ditched by audio giant Spotify after one season.
This year, we will discover if Meghan can achieve the status she craves.
Enjoy! And do let friends and family know they can sign up to the newsletter here, follow me on Twitter here or find the latest features, exclusive comment, news and sport at mailplus.co.uk
2024 has been another extraordinary year for the British Royal Family and the Daily Mail Royals channel has been there every step of the way.
Here we look back at the biggest stories from the second half of the year revisiting the big stories from our unrivalled team of royal experts.
Join host Jo Elvin, Rebecca English, Richard Eden, Richard Kay, Robert Hardman, Charlotte Griffiths and Natasha Livingstone as they dissect the all the talking points from the increasingly important roles of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales to the discussions over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future, King Charles’ recovery and the role played by Queen Camilla, and not forgetting the rise of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
PLUS don’t miss part two of our brilliant montage of the best pictures of the royal family from 2024.
Just click the video above to watch.
Outcast Andrew takes a lonely drive after his Christmas exile
Duke of York spotted driving towards Windsor after being forced to pull out of family Christmas celebrations at Sandringham amid scandals – including being linked to a suspected Chinese spy.
Fergie’s message with the late Queen’s corgis
Sarah, Duchess of York offers Christmas broadcast from Windsor – featuring the late Queen Elizabeth’s beloved corgis.
Engagement rumours after Sandringham rule is flouted
Princess Margaret’s grandson Samuel Chatto was allowed to invite his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian, to stay at the Norfolk retreat. Read the story from my social diary, Eden Confidential, which is published daily from Tuesday to Saturday.
Sophie matches Anne for overseas trips as pair fill void left by King and Kate
Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Royal both visited nine countries in 2024. Sophie, 59, racked up around 28,500 air miles while Anne, 74, managed nearly 42,000.
Charles: My heartfelt gratitude to ‘selfless’ doctors and nurses
In His Majesty’s Christmas Day broadcast, the King, who revealed he has cancer almost one year ago, admitted to the ‘uncertainties and anxieties of illness’.
Plot to kidnap Harry on gap year led to security shake-up
Police were ordered to beef up security planning for royal visits after Prince Harry, then aged 20, was at the centre of an abduction scare in Argentina in which gunshots were fired.
Why I fear that without their links to the Church and the Forces, the Royals will become mere celebrities — and imperil the monarchy
Author A.N. Wilson reflects on the Royal Family’s ‘annus horribilis’ and gives his take on why Prince William’s efforts to be ‘modern’ could spell trouble for the Monarchy.
What’s the truth behind Meghan’s dramatic 2025 beach video relaunch?
Despite her past criticism of social media, Duchess of Sussex returns to Instagram with playful New Year’s Day video filmed by Prince Harry near their California home.
Zara’s very excitable trio show it’s not just Mum who loves the gee-gees
Mike and Zara Tindall and their children Mia, ten, Lena, six, and Lucas, three, kick off 2025 enjoying the racing at Cheltenham.
