A private remark by Queen Camilla comparing Princess of Wales Kate Middleton's cancer announcement video to a "shampoo commercial" has renewed scrutiny of the Royal Family's internal dynamics during a period marked by multiple health crises. The comment, disclosed by royal biographer Robert Jobson, appears in The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal, and Survival, which examines the pressures facing the monarchy as both King Charles III and the Princess of Wales underwent treatment for cancer.
According to excerpts shared by the Daily Mail, Jobson writes that Queen Camilla made the comment informally among close friends, referencing the polished production quality of the video released in September 2024. The Queen reportedly joked that the video looked like a "shampoo commercial." The video had been filmed in Norfolk and showed Kate discussing her recovery alongside Prince William and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Kate first revealed her diagnosis in March 2024 in a separate message filmed at Windsor. In that announcement, she described the news as a "huge shock" and emphasized her gratitude for support during treatment. She later underwent early-stage preventive chemotherapy.
A senior household source told Jobson that Camilla's comment was not intended to diminish Kate's medical challenge. The source said the Queen "felt, of course, deeply relieved at Catherine's recovery" and that the remark was meant "to lighten up during a stressful period for the family." The book suggests Camilla often uses humor to diffuse tension, even when the tone is "slightly questionable."
The video itself had been widely praised for its balance of candor and control. Media analyst Mark Borowski called it a "groundbreaking moment," saying the format allowed the Waleses to manage disclosure while maintaining dignity and privacy.
Jobson's biography also highlights the expanded role Camilla has taken inside the monarchy while both Kate and the King have faced treatment. The Queen, now 79, has "ramped up" public duties to maintain royal continuity. The book describes her as a "steady force," helping absorb public engagements while the family navigated overlapping medical concerns.
The biography further details King Charles III's own cancer experience, which began with an announcement in February 2024. Jobson writes that the King had endured "mounting levels of pain" and required morphine and hospital care in Aberdeen before adjusting to a modified daily schedule that includes "regular afternoon naps" and simpler meals such as spinach soup.
The overlapping diagnoses have reportedly caused Prince William and Princess Kate to draw more deeply on their religious practices. Jobson notes that the couple have become "more religious" and that William has increased his church attendance while maintaining strict privacy regarding his wife's recovery.
Jobson also writes that both Kate and Camilla have privately supported efforts to permanently remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's remaining status and privileges, with one source saying Kate did not want to "inherit the headache" of unresolved controversy.
