Kate's cancer announcement hopefully silences trolls
The Princess of Wales' moving message must surely shut up the conspiracy theorists
Where is Kate? Having chemotherapy. Not so funny now, is it? As the Princess of Wales made her moving announcement about her cancer diagnosis on Friday evening, The Royal List truly hopes this finally silences the social media trolls. We’re sending this newsletter out early, in light of the breaking news.
Catherine posted a video on Friday explaining her condition and treatment plan. “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she said.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery,” she said.
Let’s hope she is afforded that privacy she is asking for - and deserves. The timing of the announcement was made for when George, Charlotte and Louis had broken up for their Easter holidays, so the family can stay together as a unit and process the journey they are now on. We wish Catherine and all the family, the very best for the next few months.
We also hope the online mania of the past few months subsides and people take responsibility for joining in what can only be described as a pile-on, in some kind of sick game. Somewhere along the line, everyone forgot that it’s a human being on the other side of these conspiracies, someone who, as it turned out, was facing a very real health battle. Imagine what it must feel like to be the butt of the joke and horrible rumours, while facing your own mortality?
We hope Stephen Colbert feels contrite. Piers Morgan slammed The Late Show host, writing on X that his mocking TV skits now look “especially distasteful”. He also demanded John Oliver apologise for his tasteless jokes. Blake Lively also apologised on Instagram for making jokes about the Princess, saying she was mortified.
Buckingham Palace said the King was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did” and added Charles, who is also receiving treatment for cancer, had “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks”. Harry and Meghan sent their well wishes, saying, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
William’s busy week
Despite all the pressure he’s clearly been under, Prince William has been out and about this week. On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales was in Sheffield, where he told Kate Joseph, Sheffield City Council head, his wife should be there, talking about childhood development. “Venturing into my wife’s territory here. She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he said. He attended a conference on homelessness, stopping to take a selfie with a well-wisher.
On Wednesday, he visited Combermere Barracks in Windsor as the Colonel of the Welsh Guards. “As Colonel, Welsh Guards, it’s always a pleasure visiting the barracks to speak with the soldiers, hear plans for their future, and witness the great work the Battalion does with physical and mental rehabilitation,” he posted on Instagram.
Camilla wows on tour
Our trooper Queen visited the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, where she was all smiles as the crowds (and a very cute suited and booted toddler) couldn’t get enough of Her Majesty. And, frankly, who can blame them.
On Wednesday, Camilla helped Manx residents celebrate the new city status of their capital, Douglas, where she gave a speech on behalf of the King. Douglas was granted city status as part of the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations. [Here’s a fun fact/pub quiz question: The Isle of Man is the birthplace of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, set up 200 years ago in 1824.]
After spending the night at Northern Ireland’s royal residence, Hillsborough Castle, Camilla had a ball during Thursday’s engagements in Belfast. From meeting butchers and bakers to visiting The Rifles barracks, the Queen was diplomatically dressed in a green Bruce Oldfield coat dress, accessorised with a turquoise clover brooch (a gift from the late Queen). Later, it was a quick change into a bottle-green Anna Valentine dress for a World Poetry Day event, Northern Ireland: Poets and Their Place, in partnership with The Queen’s Reading Room.
Watch the Scoop trailer
It’s a film likely never to be screened in Buckingham Palace’s cinema room, as Scoop dramatises the infamous 2019 interview with the Duke of York (Rufus Sewell) grilled by Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson playing the former BBC Newsnight presenter) on his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein and allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. “You know, I thought that all went very well,” Andrew says to Emily in the trailer. Hmmm.
Based on the book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interview by Sam McAlister, a barrister turned producer (played by Billie Piper) who secured the interview, the film shows how Andrew was persuaded, plus the fallout and repercussions. Scoop is on Netflix from April 5.
Royals trump garden gnomes
Feel like your garden is missing something and have a spare £2k? Then pop over to Facebook Marketplace and take home the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Made for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, the Windsor-based seller (not a royal, but pensioner Ben Bennett) said, “I used to have two giant horses but I sold those” and is open to “sensible offers”. We’re very tempted to haggle.