Princess Kate and King Charles set for 'special Christmas' with Royal Family

Royal commentator Jennie Bond said: “I think this Christmas and New Year will take on a special significance for all of the Royal Family, but especially for the King and the Princess of Wales.

“They have come through what William has described as ‘the hardest year of my life’ – and it has undoubtedly been an even more brutal year for his father and his wife.”

Regarding Kate and William's children, Bond added: “It might be their way of saying thank you for bearing up so well during a tough time.

“Just like so many families with young children, the excitement about Christmas starts early.

"I’ve no doubt they will have their heads full of thoughts about Father Christmas loading all sorts of gifts onto his sleigh."

As for what the young royals might receive this year, the commentator added: “I’d imagine there will be some more flying lessons on the cards for George, maybe something to do with Taylor Swift for Charlotte and anything adventurous for little Louis – he’s probably at an age when he will be wanting things like a skateboard.”

Kate, 42, announced her cancer diagnosis in March and subsequently endured chemotherapy treatment.

Bond continued to tell OK!: “The cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock to the family, and cast a pall over everything this year.

“But now it seems things are looking up and I think there’ll be a feeling of real relief as they gather at Sandringham for the festivities.”

King Charles, 76, was also diagnosed with cancer this year and began a course of treatment.

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Bond added: “There must now be a deep bond between the King and the Princess of Wales after the sad coincidence that they were hospitalised in the same week for what appeared to be benign operations, only for them both to discover that they had cancer.

“I’m sure there will be moments over Christmas when they will raise a glass to one another.”

Speaking about George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, Bond said: “I think it is in their own family home that the Waleses let the kids run riot.

“So I think they’ll probably be tearing open their stockings and racing around their home at some ungodly hour on Christmas morning – just like kids up and down the country.”