The King has been presented with many challenges this year – but as he prepares to celebrate his 76th birthday, a royal expert explains why there is a light at the end of the tunnel

King Charles has had a difficult year, punctuated by personal health battles, worries for his family and grappling with not being able to work as hard as he has always done. But, if there is anything the last few weeks have proved, it is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as he marks his 76th birthday on 14 November and begins to look ahead to a more joyful 2025, reports OK!

It was on his recent Commonwealth visit that we got a glimpse of the King back in action – he looked happy and confident, coming across as a modern monarch who is striving to make it clear that the future of any country lies in the hands of its people.

This easy approach is proving popular and will certainly be a driving force going into the next twelve months. Rather like in Robert Hardman’s newly updated book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story in which a close friend of the monarch says “being King is a suit that fits him well”, it is clear that Charles will do all he can to get back to work.

Echoing the source in Robert’s book, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!: “I think that neatly sums up where Charles is in his life right now.

“He is enjoying being King and was understandably annoyed to be stopped in his tracks by cancer. There is no indication when his treatment will end or what the final prognosis is, but it’s clear that Charles remains impatient to get on with the job of being monarch and is now getting back into his stride.”

Much like a racehorse at the starting gate, the King’s determination and drive to work has long been one of the hallmarks of his character. As he descends from a legacy of the hardest working royals – with his father, Prince Philip, not retiring until the age of 96 and the late Queen still working up until two days before her death – it is understandable where he gets it from, but Jennie makes it clear that health always comes first.