Putting what has been described as a year from Hell behind them, the world watched on in tears earlier this month as Prince William and Princess Katherine, alongside their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louie—stood reunited to poignantly celebrate individuals and organizations who care for others through difficult and often heartbreaking times.

The Princess is at the center of a defining moment in her royal life. Although she’s slowly returning to public duty after battling cancer, insiders revealed that the Princess of Wales isn’t ready to hit the ground running quite yet.

As the year comes to an end, we can say that there has not been much intrigue and suspense swirling around the monarchy this year. Catherine has suddenly veered off course, and something very strange is unfolding in the lead-up to the holidays. The Wells’ team has been mindful of her energy levels when planning her schedule, and the details remain private. There’s no sense of trying to gloss over the reality that it’s an unpredictable disease. We’re being encouraged not to look at this chapter as if it’s over and then it’s back to normal, because cancer doesn’t work like that.

For years, she and husband Prince William have released their annual dose of glad tidings and heartwarming calls around the very rough midpoint of December. Well, all we have to show for it is a very big question mark: Where’s the Wells family Christmas card?

For those not in the know, King Charles’s brother can’t keep his name out of the negative headlines. The disgraced Duke of York has been a real headache for the royal family as he’s been involved in scandal after scandal. Following the prince’s latest embarrassment for the monarchy, he will not be attending a pre-Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace and won’t be joining the rest of the family at Sandringham for holiday festivities.

It would be entirely sensible if the Wells had decided to sit on their card until the hullabaloo was blown over. However, they could be waiting a while, putting them in a right pickle. The couple has to issue it at some point, but how close to Christmas can or will they get?

Last year, on December 11th, Kensington Palace also put out a professionally shot video of Katherine and her three children spreading holiday cheer and visiting a baby bank. For King Charles, the Wells’ card unveiling would be an absolute godsend after a hell of a year. Taking the world’s attention off the eighth in line to the throne’s appalling judgment and general foolishness would be heaven-sent right now.

Now, it’s being reported that the king is urging his sibling to fully withdraw from the royal spotlight and not be seen on a public stage again. Some believe the monarch putting his foot down with Andrew has been a long time coming, as future monarchs William and Katherine washed their hands of the Duke a while back.

Hopefully, our patience will pay off, and when the card finally does come, let us really enjoy it and savor it because we could be waiting a while to see Catherine again.

The Princess’s ongoing health battle has prompted her to reassess her commitments, an outsider adding that she plans to pace herself and focus on projects she feels passionate about. She’s reportedly taking a new approach to life, health, and royal duties as she continues to focus on her recovery following her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess of Wales is said to be making strategic decisions about her public engagements, choosing to prioritize family and well-being over external pressures. She’ll probably continue to be strategic about how often she appears in public, and people shouldn’t hold it against her if she’s doing less next year. While Katherine has not publicly addressed these reports, her reduced public presence in recent weeks reflects her efforts to take control of her recovery. As the Princess continues to balance her health, family, and royal responsibilities, her focus remains on maintaining her strength and resilience.