Prince William and Kate Middleton had quite a year. Take a look back at the photos that defined their 2024.

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced Kate had undergone a "planned abdominal surgery" at the London Clinic, adding that she would remain at the hospital for 10 to 14 days while she recovered.

The statement did not provide additional information about the procedure. However, it said Kate hoped "her personal medical information remains private" for her children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

The day after the announcement, William was photographed leaving the London Clinic after visiting Kate.

William attended the BAFTAs solo on February 18, walking the red carpet and connecting with various celebrity attendees during the event.

He was photographed speaking to Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde, and Mia McKenna-Bruce.

Social-media users quickly noticed the actors' facial expressions — particularly Edebiri's look of shock — in the photo.

As Kate's absence from the public eye continued, speculation about her well-being intensified, particularly after Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate with her children on March 10 that appeared to have been edited. William was credited with taking the photo on their Instagram.

Multiple photo agencies issued kill orders for the image after it was released. In an X statement released on March 11, Kate apologized for "any confusion" the image caused and said she edited it.

Then, on March 22, Kate announced she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing "a course of preventative chemotherapy." She made her announcement in a video shared by Kensington Palace, speaking directly to the public for the first time in 2024. The palace released a photo of Kate alongside the video as well.

The Princess of Wales did not specify what kind of cancer she had, but she said she started her chemotherapy regimen in February and had kept her diagnosis private for the sake of her children.

"We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment," Kate said in the video.

Buckingham Palace previously announced King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer on February 5.

William returned to public duty on April 18 after scaling back on his royal duties amid Kate's diagnosis, visiting the food redistribution center Surplus to Supper.

He helped prepare and deliver meals during his visit.

When King Charles ascended the throne, he became head of the armed forces in the UK, according to the royal family's website.

Before he was monarch, Charles served as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a title he passed to William after becoming king.

Charles officially appointed William Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps on May 13 at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop.

Since becoming the first in line for the throne, William has taken on several new responsibilities, most notably becoming Prince of Wales.

Kate returned to royal engagements on June 15, joining her family at the annual Trooping the Colour.

She rode in a car to Buckingham Palace with William and her children and greeted the public from its balcony alongside them in coordinating outfits.

Kate announced she would attend Trooping the Colour in a statement she shared on social media, in which she said she was still undergoing treatment.

On June 22 — a day after his birthday — William took George and Charlotte to see Taylor Swift perform at Wembley Stadium during her Eras Tour.

The trio met Swift and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, ahead of the show. They posed for selfies that the Prince of Wales and Swift shared on Instagram.

Swift wished William a happy birthday in the caption of her post.

"Happy Bday M8," she wrote. "London shows are off to a splendid start 🇬🇧🇺🇸🤝."

Kate has served as the patron of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, so she crowns the winner of the Wimbledon men's singles final each year.

She returned for the 2024 men's singles final to watch the match in a box with Charlotte and her sister, Pippa Middleton, 41. The match marked her first solo royal engagement of the year, and she awarded Carlos Alcaraz the trophy when he won.

Kate was photographed throughout the day, but in the sweetest shot of the event, Charlotte grinned up at her mom as she waved to the crowd.

On September 9, Kensington Palace released a video update from Kate and a photo of her walking through a field of wildflowers.

In the video filmed by Will Warr, which included candid footage of William and Kate with their children and her parents, Kate shared that she completed her chemotherapy treatment — though she said she was not completely recovered.

"Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus," she said. "Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes."

On October 11, Kate joined William for a visit to the Southport Community Centre, which was still reeling after three girls died in a knife attack after a dance class in the area, the royal family's website said.

The pair were photographed speaking to emergency services workers, but they also met privately with the victims' families.

"In the face of tragedy, this community's strength and resilience has been a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite us," William and Kate said of their visit in the caption of an Instagram post.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were photographed sitting in a box together, as they have at countless royal engagements throughout their marriage. Their presence at the event signaled Kate's subtle return to the norm.

King Charles and Princess Anne sat in the box as well.

Kate and The Royal Foundation host the "Together at Christmas" carol service each December at Westminster Abbey. The 2023 event marked Kate's last public appearance for nearly six months.

William, Kate, and their children attended the 2024 carol service on December 6, each wearing shades of red. They were photographed sitting in the front row, holding candles and singing together.

The event marked Kate's second royal engagement of December, as she joined William at the Ceremonial Welcome of the State of Qatar on December 3.

William traveled to Paris for the grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral on December 7.

At the event, he was photographed with several world leaders, including Donald Trump.

William and Trump were photographed speaking at the UK ambassador's residence.