British Royal Family: English Patients: A Fateful Year for the Royals

A year ago, less than an hour apart, two messages were sent across the ticker that would possibly change the British royal family forever: “Princess Kate in the hospital longer after planned abdominal surgery” and “British King Charles has to go to the clinic.”

Two of the most important royals initially disappeared from the scene. Queen Camilla (77) temporarily became the most important representative of the royal family. At that time it was less than a year since King Charles III. (76) had been crowned. And things were to get much worse.

Although the first messages from the palace sounded reassuring, at least in the case of Princess Kate (43), it was clear that it could not have been a routine procedure. The Princess of Wales should suspend her royal duties for months. However, the details remained secret.

The openness was remarkable

For Charles it was an everyday operation. What was remarkable, however, was the openness with which the royal family communicated about the monarch’s illness.

The king suffered from an enlarged prostate and used his fame to promote preventive examinations. With success: many men found out more about prostate diseases. The number of hits on the website of the British health service NHS skyrocketed.

This openness was an absolute novelty for the British royals. Health diagnoses had previously been kept strictly under wraps, as constitutional expert Craig Prescott from London’s Royal Holloway University emphasizes: “Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have always kept things very, very secret.”

The news shocked the country

And the Royals stuck to the new line when far more disturbing news emerged. The February 2024 news, “Palace: King Charles has cancer,” sent the country into shock.

Once again the openness was astonishing, even if the exact diagnosis remained a secret. The only thing that is clear is that the king does not suffer from prostate cancer. After initial reluctance, he soon returned to his public appointments, albeit to a lesser extent.

And although treatment continues, Charles is now traveling around the world again – such as with Camilla to Australia and Samoa last year.

Kate is now in remission

Things were a little different with Kate. She initially withdrew completely, which led to considerable speculation on social media. It took some time for her to admit that she, too, was suffering from cancer. But with a moving video message that she used to encourage other cancer patients.

There was an even more elaborately produced video when Kate announced the end of her chemotherapy in September. Kate is now in remission. According to the British organization Cancer Research UK, a complete remission would occur if no signs of cancer can be detected after treatment.

But even if the health situation of the two English patients has improved significantly since last year, it is unlikely that the change in royal communication can be reversed. The palace has successfully gone on the offensive with its communications about the illnesses, says Prescott. People have learned that it is worthwhile to go public with news on their own initiative and thus decide for themselves how many details should be revealed. “And that is generally accepted,” said the expert.

Discord seemed to get less attention

In addition, Charles’ illness meant that he was perceived as more approachable and human. “He had a reputation as a somewhat aloof person who was interested in somewhat unusual topics,” explains Prescott. Now Charles has shown the ability to convey modesty and a certain approachability.

And the illnesses of the two royals may have had another positive effect: the British tabloid media had more than enough material to report on. Royal disputes, such as those that had arisen again and again in recent years between Charles’s younger son Prince Harry (40) and the other royals, seemed to receive less attention.