The cancer diagnosis shocked and surprised supporters at Buckingham Palace. The Princess of Wales is a symbol of modernity in an ancient institution. The announcement in January 2024 that Princess Catherine—or Kate, as her fans call her—would have to undergo abdominal surgery caused great concern among admirers of the royal family.
To recover from the operation, he retreated to his home in Windsor and remained silent.
From that point on, high-level speculation began to emerge, fueled by clues and photos.
Until, in March, Kensington Palace, the official London residence of Prince William and Kate, published a photo of her smiling and healthy next to her three children on Mother’s Day.
News agencies, however, soon questioned the document’s authenticity after discovering that the image had been digitally altered. Shortly after, Kate admitted that she had personally manipulated the photo.
The episode was followed by more speculative theories: was it an attempt to hide something?
A week after “Kategate,” the princess was seen walking with her husband to a regional grocery store in Windsor, where they bought some bread. Another customer noticed the royal couple and recorded the scene with his cell phone, later telling British tabloid The Sun that Kate looked happy and relaxed.
So everything was fine now? Unfortunately no. In a video message released on Friday evening (22/03), Kate announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year, after abdominal surgery. “My medical team advised me to undergo preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of treatment,” the princess said in the video, recorded two days earlier. The office representing her said no further details about the illness would be provided.
To many, Kate’s life previously seemed like a fairy tale: marriage to the future king, three healthy children, loved by the people.
The perfect princess
Today, 42 years old, Kate is considered a symbol of the British monarchy. And although she does not have aristocratic origins, her elegant and humble ways also won the heart of Queen Elizabeth II, who blessed her union in 2011 with her nephew and Prince William.
Even though she did not belong to the nobility, the then young Kate Middleton had all it took to become a worthy member of the monarchy.
The marriage officially made Kate a member of the royal family – or “of the company”, as they are also known. The Princess of Wales’ public relations team also contributed to her image: she is no longer Kate Middleton, but Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wife of a future king.
A controlled image
And Kate has learned to handle media pressure. Pursued by paparazzi, she did exactly what was expected of her, both the royal family and the public: she was unimpressed; she nor she overshadowed the prince, her fiancé. She is still like that today.
The two have been together for over 20 years. He laughs loudly and sincerely, happily greets everyone. With her captivating smile, she carries out her representative duties alongside the prince, focusing her work on charities dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young people.
When you choose your garments, which are simple and elegant, you leave nothing to chance: everything is planned down to the smallest detail. Whether attending a royal ceremony or planting a tree during a public appearance, Kate is always so well-groomed that she almost seems a little too staged.
Breath of youth for the royal family
Kate has secured the royal family’s future by giving birth to three children, including two male heirs to the throne, who may one day follow in the footsteps of their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022.
The importance of the princess for the royal family, however, goes beyond the simple guarantee that there are enough heirs to the throne: Kate is also the one who breathes new life into the outdated monarchy, helping the royals to be closer to the people. She does this by harnessing the power of the media and social networks like no other member of the family before her: on Instagram, the Welsh couple’s channel has almost 16 million followers.
Again, Princess Catherine has the support of the royal public relations team to try to create a positive image of the royal family, with photos of the perfect clothes she wears and her well-behaved children.
When William’s younger brother Prince Harry introduced American actress Meghan Markle to Buckingham Palace in 2016, Kate had a workout partner for a short time. Together with their husbands, they were the “dream team” of young royals; many called them the “fantastic four” in reference to the Beatles – and they finally seemed to reinvigorate the image of the royals.
But in 2019, the couples went their separate ways, with observers speculating about the cause of the split. It all ended when Harry and Meghan left Buckingham Palace.
68616169 – The “Fantastic Four” were the calling card of the royal family until Harry and Meghan parted ways with Buckingham Palace
Confident as ever, Kate maintained her poise, becoming the most important face of the royal family after the Queen’s death. Although King Charles III occupies the throne, it is his son William and his daughter-in-law who are the symbols of the British monarchy and bearers of hope for the future.
And that’s why the whole world will be watching Kate after Easter, rooting for the princess’ recovery.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
