Takeaways from Princess Kate’s cancer announcement

A friend recently asked me what I thought of the Kate Middleton story.

For those who may not know, the Princess of Wales had surgery in January and the accompanying announcement reported she would be convalescing for at least three months.

Since then, there has been a series of stories, fueled mostly by speculation and conjecture.

In an attempt to quell the rumours, which have been blazing a trail like forest fires in the summer, the Princess released a photo for Mother’s Day in the UK, which was later removed from publication because of alleged amateur photoshopping by the Princess herself.

The resulting uproar and more speculation led to the Princess releasing a video statement Friday, March 22 in which she disclosed she has cancer (unspecified). She again asked for privacy and offered support to others diagnosed with cancer.

THE TAKEAWAYS

I’m not a royal family follower, although I do watch the weddings, as I am fascinated by the dresses worn by the brides and guests.

But I do have thoughts on the way this story unfolded: how it was told (or not told) by the palace communications team, what messages were shared, and the contrasts between her story and that of her father-inlaw, who was also diagnosed with cancer.

There are multiple takeaways from which we all can learn.

NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM.

In the absence of information, gossip will fill the void, and nothing makes more money than eyeballs on a website or scandal sheet. Vague statements followed by silence don’t help.

PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL

Given that there are multiple protocols and plans in place for all kinds of scenarios regarding the royals, it is difficult to understand why the team wasn’t more prepared to deal with the scrutiny that was sure to follow a person of intense interest like Middleton.

TRANSPARENCY

Transparency is valuable currency in a world that contains more than a 500-channel universe.

Mark Twain is credited with saying, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Regardless of whoever said it, they weren’t wrong.

Unless you are dealing with state secrets, more transparency and openness are better than none.

EMPATHY AND COMPASSION MATTER

They should have mattered before Kate Middleton had to record a video.

The incessant speculation about Kate’s personal life, her appearance, and her relationships was not out of genuine concern but was rooted in pure nosiness.

It is also a direct contradiction of the public outcry against such relentless scrutiny that followed Prince Diana’s death in 1997.

GOOD START

Middleton’s video message was a good start to rebuilding a public relationship she and her team may not have realized the value of. By sharing her story, she captured the attention and empathy of audiences, turning her experience potentially into a platform for advocacy and education.

I say 'potentially' because they could leverage Middleton’s incredible public influence more effectively in the future, both for herself and other young people, a demographic that is seeing alarming increases in cancer diagnoses.

You only need to look at the positive results the King’s announcement had on increasing the number of people seeking information on prostate health.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The video message sent speculation in another direction (what kind, what sort of treatment etc.), but it did calm the more outrageous conspiracy theories out there. It set a tone going forward for -sharing updates regarding Middleton’s personal health status.

It also set a boundary focused on her role as a mother of three young children. We all know we will die; knowing it may come sooner is daunting. Trying to balance the possible against the probably in child-friendly terms is a tough task, regardless of your social status.

PUBLIC SCRUTINY

We also have to recognize the power dynamics at play here. While public figures may willingly enter the spotlight, they do not forfeit their right to basic human dignity.

The impact of invasive public scrutiny extends beyond the royal family. It sends a troubling message to society about the boundaries of consent and the value of personal privacy.

By consuming such content, we condone it and contribute to a culture of voyeurism and entitlement that erodes our social fabric.