Royal historian provides context on Princess Kate's diagnosis
Kate, the Princess of Wales, has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
The announcement came in a video recording of the Princess Friday afternoon following weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts.
"This has had a much scarier ending than we expected," said Marlene Koenig, a royal historian and blogger.
Watch Princess Kate's video announcement here:
In the video, Princess Kate said her abdominal surgery earlier this year was successful, but that tests after the operation found that cancer had been present. She stated she has begun chemotherapy treatments.
"I immediately went to Twitter [X]," said Koenig. "I noticed [the video] and I just started bawling."
Koenig said this is a difficult situation for the royal family, particularly given the King's own recent cancer diagnosis.
"They were pretty up front with the cancer diagnosis," Koenig said of the King's diagnosis. "Unlike Queen Elizabeth's father, the present King's grandfather George VI, who died at age 52 of lung cancer. He was never told he had lung cancer. The public never knew."
Koenig said the acknowledgment of King Charles' cancer was a rather big step for transparency. The difference between his diagnosis and the princess', Koenig said, lies in the fact that Kate has no constitutional role.
"Her illness, I'm sure, the public would have embraced it from the start, had they chosen to say what it was," Koenig said. "But she's entitled to her privacy."
The royal historian believes the attention surrounding the Princess' disappearance from the public view, along with her edited family photo, spurred speculation, forcing Kate to make the announcement Friday.
"She has the best medical care anyone can get," Koenig said. "And what it will do is also help other people."
"For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope," said Princess Kate in the recorded video. "You are not alone."
Koenig concluded that moving forward, she believes the royal family will need to do some "soul searching" to ensure royal duties and appearances can continue while the princess takes care of her health.