Hi everyone, it’s Emily here with my weekly newsletter.
I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and enjoyed the wonderful photographs of the royals at Sandringham on Christmas Day.
Seeing the King and his family making the familiar walk to and from St Mary Magdalene Church really brought home the fact that this time last year, none of us were aware of how their lives were about to change.
It would be the last time the Princess of Wales would be seen in public for months and both she and the monarch would soon be given a diagnosis of cancer.
As one royal insider put it to me last week, it was a turn of events that was “not on anyone’s bingo card”.
So it was hugely reassuring to see both Catherine and the King looking happy to be back out and greeting the crowds on December 25.
But it also really brought home to me the fact that this has been a year like no other in my time covering the royal beat.
As another royal source put it, 2024 has been “the year of the curveball” for the royal family, who have had to adapt and go with the flow in a way no one could have imagined. I thought I’d share the moments that have stayed with me as it draws to a close.