What’s Next For The British Royal Family In 2022? Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton Updates

2021 was both a year of celebration and great loss for the royal family, as they started to move forward from the pandemic, welcomed new members and unfortunately contended with their most high-profile death since the dual loss of both Queen Elizabeth II’s mother and sister in 2002. However, as they continue to move forward, there will be some bright moments to look forward to.

In addition to still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the royals were dealt a massive blow following the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in April. His passing was marked with a televised funeral service which also saw Prince Harry’s first public reunion with his family since stepping away from his role in 2020. Since then, Queen Elizabeth has maintained a somewhat lower profile, though she did make a statement on her 95th birthday, which occurred in the same month as her husband’s passing.

However, some brighter moments did occur within the family as well, as they also welcomed three new babies into the midst. First, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, welcomed a son, August Phillip Hawke Brooksbank, in February, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, welcomed a daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in June. Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, also welcomed a daughter, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, in September. The new babies rank as 13th, 8th and 11th in line to the throne respectively.

With some big moments ahead in 2022, it could be a busy year for the royals if the pandemic allows them to resume more normal public lives. Here are some things to potentially look forward to.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

While she will have to celebrate her massive accomplishment without her husband by her side, 2022 will be a very big year for the Queen, as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, which marks her seventieth year in service to the United Kingdom. She is the first British Monarch to reach the honor.

While events are subject to change due to the pandemic, the family is expected to all travel throughout the year to celebrate the occasion, which culminates on the first weekend in June, which is the traditional celebration of the Queen’s birthday.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

In addition to stepping up with even more duties in 2022, it will be a big year for both Prince William and Kate in their personal lives as well. After celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary in 2021, the pair will both be celebrating milestone birthdays this year. Middleton turns 40 on Jan. 9, while Prince William reaches the same age on June 21.

As for the responsibilities, the pair are likely to have an even larger public profile than they did in the past.

“[William and Kate] are looking forward to starting fresh in the New Year. We’ll be seeing a transition of responsibility—they're taking on additional charity work, attending more events and making appearances,” a source told Us Weekly earlier in December. “There’s even a royal tour in the works, and of course they’re heavily involved in the Platinum Jubilee.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex

As for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are no longer active members of the Royal Family, all eyes will be on whether or not they choose to attend the celebrations for his grandmother’s Jubilee. Meghan was heavily pregnant at the time of Prince Philip’s funeral and was unable to fly to the UK at the time, but many have wondered if the two will find a reason not to come for the event. Markle has not returned to the UK since stepping down.

Outside of that, the two are officially not expected to welcome another child, after publicly stating they would stop at two in the past. They will celebrate Lillibet’s first birthday in June, while their son, Archie Harrison, will turn three in May. They will also celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary that month.

It’s unclear if anything is set to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Harry and William’s mother, Princess Diana’s, death. She died in a car accident after being chased by paparazzi in Paris on August 31, 1997.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice

While both of the princesses became mothers this year, fans can likely expect them to maintain their less public profiles since they are not working royals either. As of now, neither has announced plans to welcome a second child, though that could change in the new year.