According to a statement released by her office and obtained in a People exclusive, “[Kate Middleton] hopes that the public will understand her desire to [exercise privacy] to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”
It’s understandable to want to keep health diagnoses close to the chest, but Kate’s reasoning here poses a double standard. That’s because Kate’s brother and sister-in-law, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have been shamed by the press for exercising privacy for the sake of their children. For example, The New York Times pointed out the hypocrisy of Harry and Meghan pleading for privacy, while also dropping a Netflix documentary and a tell-all book. Likewise, in Kate’s case, it feels confusing to conceal a noteworthy medical procedure while simultaneously showing face at public events.
But the British monarchy has long held a complicated relationship with the press — criticizing the tabloids for intrusion, while also working with the media to promote various causes and events. Speaking with The New York Times, historian Ed Owens nodded to “toxicity” between the royals and the media. “There has been both a softening of the press’s approach and a more aggressive approach by the family to how they are covered,” he said. On that note, a double health announcement by the royal family is something that wouldn’t have been done in the days of Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps this signals a new, modern approach to communication.
