An exclusive analysis of the official royal record has revealed which member of the Royal Family shouldered the heaviest burden of public duties this year, with a surprising result that underscores remarkable dedication.
The Monarch Sets the Pace
King Charles III has been crowned the hardest-working royal of 2025, having completed a staggering 532 official engagements over the last twelve months. This achievement is particularly notable as the 77-year-old monarch has continued his weekly cancer treatment throughout the year, following his diagnosis nearly two years ago.
His total means he personally carried out almost a quarter (22 per cent) of the 2,458 engagements undertaken by the entire Royal Family in 2025. The King's duties took him across the United Kingdom and on significant overseas visits to Italy, Canada, and Poland.
Siblings and Senior Royals Follow
The analysis of the Court Circular, compiled by royal expert Patricia Treble and including data up to December 18, shows the King's sister, Princess Anne, completed 478 engagements. Often hailed as the busiest royal, the Princess Royal actually worked more days (186) than her brother, but attended fewer individual events.
The three senior royal siblings dominated the year's workload. Following the King and Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, secured third place with 313 engagements. His wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was fourth with 235 duties, while Queen Camilla completed 228 engagements to take fifth place.
Recovery and Increased Activity
The year saw a significant 22 per cent increase in overall royal engagements compared to 2024, rising from 2,001 to 2,458. The four most senior royals all saw their workloads jump substantially as they returned to a fuller schedule after health challenges the previous year.
Prince William's engagements increased by 45 per cent to 202, placing him seventh. Most strikingly, the Princess of Wales, who continued her gradual return to public life following her own cancer treatment, undertook 68 engagements. This represents a 423 per cent increase from her 13 duties in 2024.
Patricia Treble noted: "Considering he spent the entire year undergoing regular cancer treatment, the King set the pace when it comes to royal duty for the House of Windsor." She added that the royal workforce, with an average age of 68.7, is performing well beyond the usual retirement age.
The full list of working royals by number of engagements for 2025 is:
- King Charles - 532
- Princess Anne - 478
- Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh - 313
- Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh - 235
- Queen Camilla - 228
- Duke of Gloucester - 212
- Prince William - 202
- Duchess of Gloucester - 113
- Duke of Kent - 77
- Princess of Wales - 68
