Princess Kate Middleton of the British royal family recently revealed that she has been battling an unknown form of cancer. Experts agree that the announcement could hold major ramifications for the U.K.’s most famous ménage and its following.
On Friday, March 22, citizens of the United Kingdom received dreadful news when Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer. This came two months after an abdominal surgery she had back in January.
In a video statement, Middleton said her condition at the time of the procedure was believed to be noncancerous. Despite the successful operation, however, following tests proved that cancer cells were present.
The news comes after Middleton’s absence from the public eye drew questions about her health and well-being. The princess’s last appearance prior to that week was during Christmas.
On top of this, controversy ensued when at least two blatantly doctored pictures of Middleton and her family were released to social media. Some of the more obvious errors seen in the photos included improper distortion of lines, areas that shouldn’t have been but were out of focus and more.
Christopher Kroh, a political science professor at the University of North Georgia said the resulting culmination of criticism and curiosity eventually pressured Middleton to finally come out about her health.
“The delay by the Prince and Princess of Wales in releasing the full extent of her condition and treatment to the public only exacerbated this dilemma.” -Christopher Kroh, UNG political science professor
Nathan Price, another UNG professor, also believes consistent questioning may have applied stress on the royal family to set the record straight. He said they tend to be very secretive, which is difficult to do in an age dominated by social media.
Regardless, the diagnosis comes as a crippling blow to the crown which has faced turmoil in recent memory. Within the past few years, the royal house experienced occurrences which include the rift involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the 2022 death of Queen Elizabeth III and the recent detection of King Charles III’s cancer.
Kroh said the combination of Middleton’s and Charles’s treatments produces likely issues for the Royal Line.
“It creates a logistical burden on the Royal Family who are stretched thin with Prince Andrew and Prince Henry no longer carrying out royal duties.” -Christopher Kroh, UNG political science professor
Additionally, the young princess’s condition brings turbulence not only toward the Crown but its subjects as well. Jenny Thurmond, a U.K. native from Scottland said her and Prince William’s public absence will be felt heavily by kingdom inhabitants.
“She and William and their young family provide vitality and excitement and a vision of the future.” -Jenny Thurmond, Scotland Native
Whatever happens, Kroh said the princess’s disease has only brought her family closer together with William’s loyalty to his wife serving as evidence.
