The royal family has a reputation for being an exclusive group. On the other hand, in the video that was released on September 9, Princess Kate, who is 42 years old, provided an unprecedented (and casual!) glimpse into her private world. She shared tender moments with her family, rare personal moments with her husband Prince William, and a sensitive update on her fight against cancer.
Gareth Russell, a royal historian, told Us Weekly that "privacy is not the same thing as secrecy." He added, "I believe that this was a very clear declaration of how Wales would like to communicate with the public going forward."
There is no longer a need for press releases in the traditional sense. A magnificent, professionally produced, sepia-toned video that was similar to those that were developed by content providers on social media was disseminated by Princess Kate to proclaim to the world that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Despite the fact that Russell acknowledged that a portion of this approach is probably "a general evolution," he thinks that it is about taking ownership of her narrative. He stated, "I would imagine that it would feel better to be in control when dealing with something of this delicate nature."
In the video, Princess Kate has both literally and symbolically taken control of the situation. "Kate was very much in the driver's seat, supported by her family," Russell stated. "She was in charge of everything."
In contrast to the previous updates regarding the royal's health, Princess Kate's video was both emotional and honest, even going so far as to remark that the past few months have certainly been challenging.
The fact that Princess Kate talked for a considerable amount of time is something that a lot of people wanted to see. "Each successive generation of royals discovers their own unique approach to discussing matters in a fresh manner," Gareth shared.
In order to ensure that her responsibilities as a royal would not take precedence over her duties at home, Princess Kate devised a set of "life rules" when she was in the process of establishing her family with her husband Prince William.
According to Robert Jobson, a royal author and journalist, these principles were carefully presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles III in 2015, when Princess Kate was pregnant with her second child, Princess Charlotte. This occurred at the time that Prince Charles III was the monarch.
In his book titled "Kate, the Princess of Wales," Gareth revealed how Princess Kate outlined her "terms" for being able to maintain a healthy balance between her royal responsibilities and her family life.
Prince William transmitted Princess Kate's wants "to grow into her role and said she needed more time to adapt to the peculiarities of royal life." Despite the fact that these "life rules" were not legally codified, Prince William has communicated Kate's desires.
"From the very beginning, she made it very clear that she would not be pigeonholed into carrying out certain responsibilities. She also insisted on having her full quota of maternity leave, which she would take away from the scrutiny of reporters and the general public. That her family will always be her top concern was something that she emphasized," Gareth wrote.
Business Times has reached out to Princess Kate for comments.
