The intention behind the Princess of Wales’s video was to quell the intense speculation surrounding her, yet it might inadvertently fuel even more relentless media coverage.
Over two decades ago, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, first experienced the public’s fascination with her life when she met Prince William, the successor to the British throne, at St Andrews University. Their budding romance was a topic of interest.
Since their union in 2011, the public’s curiosity about Catherine has only intensified. Every aspect of her life – her movements, her fashion choices, her decisions regarding her work, her children, her leisure activities, and even her mannerisms – has been under constant scrutiny, analysis, and judgement.
As one of the most recognized women in the UK, one would assume that she has become accustomed to the attention, whether she tolerates it or takes pleasure in it. However, it’s doubtful that she or her loved ones were prepared for the relentless, round-the-clock speculation that has surrounded her since the announcement in January that she had undergone abdominal surgery.
Catherine and William have endeavored to maintain privacy during this deeply personal and challenging period for their family. However, the whirlwind of rumors and conspiracy theories in both traditional and digital media, as well as on social media, has made this impossible.
In a message recorded on Friday, Catherine disclosed her cancer diagnosis and that she is in the initial stages of chemotherapy. The discovery of cancer, following tests, was a “tremendous shock,” she shared. She emphasized the time it took to process the news, recover enough to begin treatment, and most importantly, “time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a manner suitable for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
In the interim between the princess’s admission to the London Clinic on January 16 and Friday’s announcement, speculation about her condition spiraled out of control. It escalated dramatically after the first official photograph of Catherine post-surgery was withdrawn by some of the world’s largest picture agencies due to allegations of manipulation.
Catherine’s public apology for the “confusion” caused by her digital editing of the Mother’s Day family photo did not quell the storm. It was only when the Sun published footage of her smiling with her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor that a semblance of sanity seemed to return to the mainstream media.
However, this did little to curb the rampant theories circulating about Catherine and her husband on social media. On platform X, the impact of its owner Elon Musk, a staunch advocate of “absolute free speech,” is evident. Among the more acceptable conspiracy theories are claims that the princess’s footage was a body double, or that she was in a coma, recovering from plastic surgery, or even deceased.
In the meantime, the Sun’s tabloid competitor, the Daily Mirror, has also released a range of exclusive stories, such as “Kate Middleton lookalike ‘was at work’ when farm shop video was filmed as conspiracy theories abound,” and “Kate Middleton clip triggers social media frenzy with jokes and conspiracies.”
The speculation has, in a way, given traditional media an excuse to continuously write about the situation, often under the pretense of advocating for the princess’s privacy. The Sun, which recently faced “overwhelming intrusion” allegations from Catherine’s brother-in-law, Prince Harry, in a high court hearing, issued a front-page message last week to all social media trolls, conspiracy theorists, and critical media: “Leave Kate alone.”
Victoria Newton, the editor of The Sun, expressed to Times Radio that the “wild online speculation” had spiraled “out of control.” She added, “The public seemed extremely eager to know what was wrong with her, but I believe she had the right to recuperate at home.”
A few days later, they published footage of her visit to a farm shop.
The revelation of the princess’s diagnosis might cause a twinge of guilt among those who reveled in the most sensational speculation, but it’s unlikely to decrease the volume of content about her.
The palace has emphasized that Catherine, like all of us, “has a right to medical privacy.” And they are correct. However, much like King Canute, who acknowledged his inability to control the incoming tides, they are likely aware that their plea for privacy may fall on deaf ears in certain media sectors, not to mention the more extreme corners of the internet.
Pray for Kate Middleton’s cancer recovery pic.twitter.com/JJaXD1RuQM
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) March 23, 2024
The princess’s candidness has been praised by commentators and royal experts, who have noted the emotional resonance of her direct communication with the public. Despite previous conjecture about her health, the news has still managed to shock many, as evidenced by the reactions of individuals outside Buckingham Palace.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal expert, expressed to AFP how deeply moved many people would have been by the princess’s conduct during her over two-minute broadcast. He acknowledged the immense difficulty this period poses for the monarchy, making it nearly impossible to plan anything involving Charles or Kate.
Claudia Joseph, a royal biographer, expressed to Reuters her hope that this revelation would quell the speculation. She acknowledged the reality of social media, where people often virally spread and troll with baseless speculations, talking absolute nonsense. She expressed a hope that this would end, but recognized the challenges posed by the nature of social media.