Dying Charles Planning His ‘Last Christmas’ With the Royal Family Amid Reports His ‘Health Isn’t the Best’

Nothing makes you more prone to reflection than illness. Well, and age. King Charles was already the oldest monarch to ascend to the throne when he became King, and he’s been battling cancer for almost two years now. So, it’s understandable if the King is getting particularly emotional during the holidays.

Us Weekly reported from a source that “Charles prioritizes duty, but he’s also a family man who knows his time is precious. He wants a special last Christmas in case it’s his last.”

The King is set to join the rest of the family for their annual Christmas walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning, will record his speech to air later that day, and afterwards will spend the rest of the day with the family. “Nothing would stop Charles from doing that,” a source said about the speech. “He will do everything expected of him and more. His health isn’t the best. They’re taking it day by day.”

And though “the celebration may carry a wistful tone, however, it will also be a time of celebration, especially after Kate received the all-clear. They all want to make the most of their time together.”

The celebration will take place at Sandringham House and is expected to include most of the royal family, including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and of course, William, Kate Middleton and their kids. Andrew Mountbouten Windsor is not expected to be invited after he was stripped from his titles and ordered to vacate his home of Royal Lodge. Sarah Ferguson will also not be invited.

After King Charles’ recent meeting with his estranged son, Prince Harry, there were questions about whether he, Meghan Markle and their kids would also be invited for Christmas. But the answer seems to be in the negative, with one source saying about the meeting: “that’s as far as it has gone.” And though the same source also said that the chances of an invitation were always “slim,” the recent decision by Harry and Meghan to attend Kris Jenner’s birthday party didn’t help matters.

“If they are going to go out and look like Hollywood players, it’s at odds with what the palace and royal family members would do,” the source also said.

What exactly is the traditional way for the royal family to spend Christmas? According to royal historian Marlene Koenig there will be an afternoon tea with traditional cakes, sandwiches and Coronation Chicken, which is a typical British dish consisting of chicken in a curried mayonnaise sauce, and later a black-tie dinner followed by gift-giving. And though the family certainly has the money to buy the most expensive things for each other, that’s not the way it usually goes.

“The royals prefer jokey or inexpensive gifts,” Koenig said. “There’s a competition to see who can get the funniest one,” another source told the outlet.

A Christmas with the family sounds like the perfect plan for just about anyone, whether you are royalty or not.