The number of public engagements by the British royal family has seen a substantial decline due to health concerns impacting two prominent figures, King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales. According to a recent sovereign grant report from Buckingham Palace, the monarchy participated in over 1,900 events in the year leading up to March 2025, a significant reduction from 2,300 events in the previous year, and a far cry from the 3,200 engagements recorded before the pandemic during Queen Elizabeth II's tenure.
The impact of King Charles' undiagnosed form of cancer, announced in February 2024, along with ongoing health challenges faced by Princess Catherine, has understandably altered the family's public commitments. Despite these setbacks, the report emphasizes that royal outreach activities have persisted, with more than 93,000 guests attending 828 events at royal palaces throughout the reporting period.
James Chalmers, overseeing the management of the monarch's financial affairs, noted that the concept of "soft power" - the influence and goodwill a monarchy holds both domestically and globally - remains invaluable even as health issues loom. Highlighting the resilience of the monarchy, King Charles has resumed public duties since May 2024, partaking in vital international activities such as meetings with Commonwealth leaders in Samoa and a recent two-day visit to Canada for parliamentary openings.
