Summary

The British Royal Family appears to be experiencing another challenging year, reminiscent of the "annus horribilis" of 1992, with significant health issues affecting multiple members, including King Charles III and the Duchess of Cambridge, and the recent passing of Thomas Kingston.

Abstract

The article draws parallels between the current events in the British Royal Family and the tumultuous year of 1992, which Queen Elizabeth II famously referred to as an "annus horribilis." In 2024, the family is facing a series of health crises: King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer, the Duchess of Cambridge has undergone abdominal surgery and has been out of the public eye since Christmas, and Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, is battling skin cancer after previously undergoing a mastectomy. Additionally, the sudden death of Thomas Kingston, the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, has added to the sense of unease. The article suggests that the pattern of unfortunate events, coupled with the fact that 2024 is a leap year like 1992, has led to speculation and a feeling that the royal family is enduring another particularly difficult year.

Opinions

The author believes that the series of health issues and unfortunate events within the royal family in 2024 is comparable to the "annus horribilis" of 1992.
There is an implication that the leap year may hold some significance or superstition regarding the occurrence of these events.
The lack of public appearances by the Duchess of Cambridge since her surgery is fueling speculation, indicating a public interest and concern for her well-being.
The article suggests that there is a general sense of unease or a feeling that "there's something in the air" surrounding the royal family.
The author invites readers to share their own thoughts and opinions on the matter, indicating an open-ended question rather than a definitive conclusion.

Are The British Royal Family Having Another Annus horriblis?

Read on…

The firm in all of its glory. Image via Twitter

The year was 1992.

And the late Queen Elizabeth II was giving a speech commemorating her 40th anniversary on the throne and she uttered the phrase which would forever be immortalized in British popular culture:

1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.

And with good reason too, given the list of things which had taken place:

Publication of photographs pertaining to an affair between Sarah, Duchess of York, and Texan oil millionaire Steve Wyatt (18 January)

Separation of the Queen’s second son Prince Andrew, Duke of York, from his wife Sarah (19 March)

Divorce of the Queen’s daughter, Anne, Princess Royal, from Captain Mark Phillips (23 April)

Publication of Diana, Princess of Wales’ tell-all book Diana: Her True Story, revealing the problems in her marriage to the Queen’s eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales particularly his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles (The Sunday Times, 7 June)

Publication of photographs of Sarah, Duchess of York, sunbathing topless with her friend John Bryan (20 August)

Publication of intimate conversations between Diana and James Gilbey from a tape recording of their phone calls (24 August)

Fire in Windsor Castle, one of the Queen’s official residences (20 November)

And rather ominously, one more thing took place after the speech was recorded, which was the separation of Charles and Diana.

So why have I brought this up?

There’s been a number of strange events and we are only two months into 2024.

First, there is King Charles III

His Majesty’s cancer was diagnosed during his surgery to reduce his enlarged prostate in January and the dissemination of the news threw everyone into a tailspin.

And there’s the Duchess of Cambridge

We were informed that the Princess of Wales — Catherine Middleton —had undergone abdominal surgery and was recovering at Kensington Palace.

But here’s what’s interesting: no one has seen her since Christmas day and this is fueling so much speculation in the United Kingdom.

But these two senior royals aren’t the only ones battling major health scares.

Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, was also diagnosed with skin cancer in January and this was after having undergone a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in June 2023.

And there was the son in law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who passed on a few days ago. Thomas Kingston was only 45.

And this has brought me to the very title of this article: Are the British royal family, having another annus horriblis?

By the looks of things, the answer is a resounding yes.

Try as hard as I might not to sound superstitious, it is pertinent to point out that 2024 is a leap year in the way that 1992 was and everything seems to be happening all at once.

While it is too soon to tell how the story will end, you get the impression that there’s something in the air.

This is my two cents. What’s yours?

References:

Wikipedia.