Princess Kate Middleton has shared a personal video update on her journey to recovery after completing nine months of chemotherapy treatment. In the video, released by Kensington Palace, Kate expresses her relief at finishing the challenging treatment, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on both her and her family. While she celebrates this milestone, she also recognizes the long road ahead, emphasizing her focus on staying cancer-free and the importance of taking things one day at a time.
Kate has also begun working on certain projects from home and plans to resume limited public appearances later this year. “Doing what I can to stay cancer -free is now my focus,” Kate shared in the video.
However, the video, which she titled “Cancer Recovery,” has sparked debate among royal observers. Journalist Marina Hyde, writing for The Guardian, questioned the motivation behind the video, wondering why the Princess of Wales felt the need to “appease the public”. “A woman emerging from chemotherapy feels obliged to be filmed in a wheatfield to appease the public. What does that say about the monarchy, and us?” Hyde wrote, raising questions about the royal family’s relationship with public perception.
Hyde also pointed out an interesting observation about the video’s style. She suggests that the video’s more casual, relatable approach, reminiscent of Meghan Markle’s communication style, hints at a shift in the royal family’s public image. The same critics who denounce Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “casual California lifestyle” seem blind to the stylistic similarities between Kate’s video and Meghan’s way of engaging with the public. “the same critics who detest Harry and Meghan’s barefoot California content decline to look at the style of the Waleses’ video and consider that the Meghanisation of the royal family continues apace,” Hyde wrote.
While the video captures heartwarming moments, like Prince George’s inquisitive question about the camera, Hyde argues that the video is far from a casual, homemade capture. She highlights the professional crew, extensive post-production, and deliberate use of filters, slow-motion effects, and transitions from wide-angle shots to grainy scenes reminiscent of old film. Hyde suggests that despite the cheerful portrayal of the family, an undercurrent of tension remains present, setting the video apart from the home clips seen in the opening of the Succession web series.
