Where’s the Princess of Wales?
Charles Taker All in Good Taste
Iwas out to the antique shops this past weekend. I got a few bits and bobs but nothing fabulous came across my path. A thing that did catch my eye was a single Royal Doulton teacup and saucer made exclusively for the Fairmont chain. It is not an antique, perhaps 25 years old at most, and was likely used for afternoon tea at one of the Fairmont hotels or resorts. I was intrigued by the beauty of the pattern and of course the crown motif, on the saucer as well as the cup. Those who know me well are quite aware that I have an affinity for the Crown. In actual fact, I am an avowed monarchist. There, I said it.
Don’t judge me. I haven’t spoken a lot about that in this column, but I shall do so in a couple of weeks on what would have been Her Late Majesty’s 98th birthday.
I don’t typically buy single cups and saucers but last week, one of my everyday cups and saucers got broken while being washed so to find this one with such an appropriate design was quite fortuitous. It was also a sign that confirmed the topic of which I write this week.
But that has not stopped
internet trolls from inventing all manner of horrific conspiracy theories about her whereabouts as well as stories about the state of her marriage. All
completely unfounded.
Like many throughout the world, many of my friends have been asking me the question, “Where is Kate Middleton?” Firstly, it allows the pedant in me to reply, “who’s Kate Middleton or surely you mean the Princess of Wales?” (but don’t let me get started on that tangent). And then I remind them that she is likely at home recuperating from her abdominal surgery until Easter as the Kensington Palace press release stated back in January. But that has not stopped internet trolls from inventing all manner of horrific conspiracy theories about her whereabouts as well as stories about the state of her marriage. All completely unfounded. To quote American commentator, Chris Cuomo, it is as if we are “addicted to negativity”. Despite having asked for privacy during the time of her convalescence, the Princess was basically bullied to reveal in a video this past Friday that her post-surgical tests revealed the presence of cancer and that she had just begun preventative chemotherapy treatments. And if that was not bad enough, all weekend we have been hearing news outlets interview oncologists trying to ascertain what kind of cancer it could be by analyzing each of the Princess’ words. Enough already! Mind your own business. Do we have a right to someone’s private medical information? Absolutely not. Stop being so nosey!
A cancer diagnosis is hard enough for anyone to digest, let alone a mother with three young children wanting to protect and reassure them that their mum will be ok. That is why the Wales’ delayed announcing this update in her condition until their children were on Easter break from school. We need to realize that at the heart of this human story are real people. You’d think that this alone would instill a sense of humanity in people causing them to back off and allow the family to heal without the prying eyes of the public. How did we get to this place? Does the fact that a person occupies a public role mean they are not entitled to privacy? It seems as if the whole fabric of society has become irreparably unstitched.
Despite the negativity, it was heartening to witness an overwhelming wave of global support for the Wales’ this past weekend. It certainly reaffirmed the goodness of humanity and to the Princess that “you are not alone”. May our prayers and good wishes support the Wales’ and all others who are undergoing a similar diagnosis. Let us be bearers of hope and compassion.
To all of you who are celebrating this coming weekend, I wish you a blessed Holy Week and glorious Easter. May Light always dispel darkness. Your comments are welcome at charles@ atasteofoscarlodge.ca Next week I will share the no-fail recipe that I use for hot cross buns that are part of many of our Easter traditions. I’ll be whipping up a batch on Good Friday. If you want an advance copy of the recipe, please send me a note.
We need to realize that at the heart of this human story are real people. You’d think that this alone would instill a sense
of humanity in people causing them to back off and allow the family to heal without the prying eyes of the public. How did
we get to this place?