One of the reasons the Princess agreed to record the video message is because she felt “encouraged by how warmly the King’s public statement on his health was received, and the positive impact it has had on others going through the same thing”. Although Prince William is understood to have had reservations and questioned “why she should have to explain herself”, Kate apparently resolved that it was the only way to take complete ownership of the news.
“She’s got a steely determination inside her,” said one source who knows her well. “Once she’s put her mind to something, there’s no stopping her. She’s tough.”
Buckingham Palace released a statement on Friday expressing how the King is “so proud of Catherine for her courage” in speaking out.
The statement added that he has “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks,” and that he and his wife, the Queen, “will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time”.
The Princess’s announcement came six weeks after the King paused his public appearances following his own cancer diagnosis.
Some have questioned why it took Kensington Palace so long to break the news – which the couple received at the end of February. Yet as the Princess carefully explained, it took time to come to terms with the “huge shock”, not to mention working out how to “explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis”.
As one Palace insider explained: “The timing priorities were wholly different for the Princess because her primary audience was always going to be an audience of three children rather than millions. His constitutional obligations meant he couldn’t keep it private.”
The Queen, 76, who has two children and five grandchildren is understood to have been “checking in on” the Princess and offering advice on how to handle the media storm.
“The Queen hasn’t gone through cancer but she has raised children in the face of a feeding frenzy so can empathise on that front,” added the insider.
According to those familiar with their relationship, the King has always had a “soft spot” for the Princess. “It’s a different relationship to the one he has with his son because he’s not just pa-in-law, he is also the King,” explained one insider. “She does often turn to him for guidance on royal matters, but not family matters – she has William for that and her own parents Michael and Carole, to whom she is extremely close.
“He’s not a father figure as such – she’s got her own dad to whom she’s absolutely devoted – but you could say the King treats her like the daughter he never had. You see it in the pictures of them together. That relationship is best summed up in those fascinating moments when she greets him first with a kiss and then with a curtsey.”
Having endured a difficult marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales from whom he separated in 1992 before divorcing in 1996, the King has always supported his eldest son and heir’s desire to prioritise immediate family over the family Firm.
When William, 41, announced he would be taking a step back from public duties to support his wife’s recuperation, he did it with his father’s blessing. And amid the adversity, the King and the heir to the throne appear closer than they have ever been.
It is not just a case of them working “in lock step” as King and future king on royal matters since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Megxit saga – with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex having launched repeated salvos against them, their wives and the institution of monarchy since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020 – has apparently strengthened their relationship as father and son too.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
