Kate Middleton Gets an Unexpected Nomination After Challenging Year

Kate Middleton probably won’t list 2024 as her favorite year ever, but at least one media organization is honoring her for making a major impact on a global scale. The Princess of Wales was nominated for Time‘s annual honor, the coveted Person of the Year. 

The announcement was made on the Today show on Monday, Dec. 9 and she’s on the short list of notable names, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, President-elect Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg. Anchor Savannah Guthrie noted, “Every year since 1927, Time has selected the man, woman, group, or concept that’s had the most influence on the world for better or for worse.” The honoree will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 12 on the morning news show.

The royal family expected 2024 to be Kate’s big coming out year with her push for her passion projects, but those plans were put on ice. On Jan. 17, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales had undergone a “planned abdominal surgery” at The London Clinic the day before. They expected her to be absent through Easter which set off a frenzy of media coverage on her marriage to Prince William. 

She made limited, but celebrated, appearances over the year, including Trooping the Colour and her Together at Christmas concert. Kate celebrated the end of her chemotherapy treatment in September with a cinematic video that she narrated. “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,” she shared. “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”

The impact of her illness strengthened her bond with Prince William and reportedly brought the spark back to her marriage. “It’s safe to say that her health crisis has made Kate and William stronger as a couple — and now they’re more in love than ever before,” a royal source revealed to Life & Style. “William and Kate have been to hell and back, and it just proves that nothing can break them.” 

Kate’s resilience might be exactly what lands her at the top of Time‘s Person of the Year list, but royal fans will have to wait until Thursday to find out the answer.  

Before you go, click here to see more of Kate Middleton’s best royal fashion moments.