In Pictures: Carol service brings some joy at end of difficult year for royals

The King and Princess of Wales revealed they had been diagnosed with cancer during a difficult year for the royal family.

The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales attended a carol service at Westminster Abbey — The Princess of Wales made a rare public appearance with her family at a Christmas carol concert as she makes a gradual return to public events after completing her cancer treatment (Aaron Chown/PA)

The royal family faced a difficult and upsetting year as both the King and Princess of Wales revealed they had been diagnosed with cancer.

The health blows faced by Charles and Kate torpedoed any plans for a run-of-the-mill year as the King looked to settle in amid the aftermath of the late Queen’s death and his accession in 2022 and the hectic demands of the coronation in 2023.

But the year ended on a more positive note, with Charles going on a tour of Australia and Samoa and Kate enjoying a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey with the Prince of Wales and her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Photographers from the PA news agency were on hand throughout the year to capture the highs and the lows.

The King reads cards and messages, sent by well-wishers, following his cancer diagnosis (Jonathan Brady/PA)

A person watches Kate's announcement on a smartphone outside Buckingham Palace — The Princess of Wales recorded a message announcing she was having treatment for cancer (Yui Mok/PA)

Camilla holding a sign that reads 'send our love to Kate' that she received from well-wishers during a visit to Shrewsbury — Camilla, who took on more responsibilities as her husband recovered, received a message of support for the Princess of Wales from well-wishers during a visit to to Shrewsbury in March (Chris Jackson/PA)

Charles unveils a portrait of himself done by Jonathan Yeo — The King, who began to return to public duties after some time recovering, greeted artist Jonathan Yeo at the unveiling of Yeo’s portrait of Charles (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June — In June, the Prince and Princess of Wales were seen with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following Trooping the Colour (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The King speaks to Sir Keir Starmer during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister — Official duties for the King included an audience with Sir Keir Starmer at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister (Yui Mok/PA)

The King and Queen, seated on thrones, during the State Opening of Parliament — The King and Queen also attended the State Opening of Parliament in July, which took place on Camilla’s birthday (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

Kate leans towards Charlotte as they both stand and clap in the royal box at Wimbledon's Centre Court — Kate was warmly greeted as she and daughter Princess Charlotte attended Wimbledon in the summer (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Princess of Wales and husband William smile as they hug their three children — The Princess of Wales appeared in a deeply personal video with her family in September as she confirmed she would return to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy course (Will Warr/Kensington Palace/PA)

The Duchess of Edinburgh in Chad, with refugees who had crossed the border from Sudan — Many other members of the royal family increased their public duties as the King and Kate were treated for cancer, including the Duchess of Edinburgh, who during a visit to Chad in central Africa met refugees crossing the border from Sudan to escape the civil war (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Sarah, Duchess of York, pours a pint while on a visit to the set of Coronation Street in Manchester, watched by actress Sally Dynevor — Sarah, Duchess of York, also had some time in the spotlight as she poured a pint while on a visit to the set of Coronation Street in Manchester. The day also included a visit to the Prevent Breast Cancer headquarters in Manchester with Corrie star Sally Dynevor (Danny Lawson/PA)

Charles and Camilla hold umbrellas as they meet members of the Apia rugby team during a visit to the Samoan Cultural Village in Apia — Charles and Camilla may have hoped to escape the cold and rain of a UK autumn with a tour to Australia and Samoa in October, but they still needed umbrellas when they met members of the Apia rugby team rugby (Aaron Chown/PA)

Kate and William stand and applaud at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall — In November, the Princess of Wales carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements for the first time since the start of the year as she joined William at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, and then watched on from a balcony at commemoration services for the war dead on Remembrance Sunday (Chris J Ratcliffe/PA)

The King in uniform during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London — The King stands in silence during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Prince of Wales sits on a sofa near US President-elect Donald Trump — The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump in Paris after they attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December (Aaron Chown/PA)

Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales hold candles during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London — The year ended on a brighter note for the royal family as Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales joined the rest of their family for the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London (Aaron Chown/PA)