Biography reveals how health crises shaped the monarchy in 2024
King Charles III was compelled to rethink the running of the monarchy in 2024 after facing serious health struggles, according to a new biography. The 76-year-old monarch endured a difficult year not only with his own cancer treatment but also as Catherine battled her own diagnosis, leaving the royal family under immense strain.
Robert Hardman’s updated biography, Charles III: The Inside Story, highlights how the King felt a strong need to “reset” royal operations in the wake of these challenges. The book notes that the public had to be regularly reminded of his ongoing treatment, though Charles resisted being defined by his illness.
By late 2024, he had resumed many of his duties, including major international visits such as his trip to Australia ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa. But his return also brought renewed pressures, as outside challenges that had quietened during the focus on his health quickly resurfaced.
Hardman writes that these hurdles marked a new test for the monarch as he sought to balance his role with the realities of his recovery.
