interview
After Kate’s cancer diagnosis
Nobility expert about William as husband – and heir to the throne: “He is currently being torn apart”
William and Kate in November 2023 at the reception of the South Korean presidential couple
© DPA
After Princess Kate’s cancer news, the British royal family wants to retreat into private life. What does this mean for William, heir to the throne? And is now even the monarchy in danger? Questions for Joe Little, editor in charge at “Majesty Magazine”
Mr. Little, the April issue of your magazine “Majesty” has been printed for two weeks. The headline: “Catherine, Princess of Wales, is well”. Yesterday, Friday, it became public: Kate has cancer. Didn’t you suspect anything?
No. There has recently been a real conspiracy madness about Kate’s health. But the fact that she actually had cancer was a surprise to me and many other royal reporters.
The Queen once described 1992 as annus horribilisa terrible year for the British Royal family. At that time, many royal marriages came to an end and Windsor Castle burned. After King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses – 2024 is already the new year annus horribilis?
Let’s hope it isn’t. The year is barely three months old and has definitely started off in a very worrying way. It is a significant time in the history of the British royal family. I don’t think there’s any precedent for this. It’s also unfortunate that it happens so early in King Charles’ reign. He hasn’t even been in office for two years and has all these personal crises to deal with. But of course health problems affect every family to some extent, regardless of their status.
But the royals are always in the public eye. Kate announced that she would be retiring with her family for a while. What does that mean for Prince Williamwho was supposed to take on more responsibility after his father was diagnosed with cancer?
Recently he has no longer been as visible as one would expect of him. At the end of February he canceled a memorial service for his godfather Konstantin at short notice and for “personal reasons”. Now we know why. This time must be incredibly stressful for him. He is currently torn between role models: as a husband, father, prince and heir to the throne.
© private
To person
Joe Little is one of the most profound experts on the British royal family. Since 1999 he has been the editor in charge of Majesty. The monthly glossy magazine has been reporting on all the royals’ highs and lows for over four decades.
Can he even do justice to this balancing act?
He has to live up to it. He seems to decide which public appearances he will skip in consultation with the king. And everyone is still working behind the scenes. William, Catharine, the King. It’s just the public side of her role – going out, meeting people, a very important task – that’s on the back burner right now. This compromise will continue until the situation improves. Nobody knows when that will be. And of course that complicates things.
The Queen once said, loosely translated: “People have to see me to believe in my existence.” With King Charles, Princess Kate and Prince William, the core of the royal family will probably not be seen often for quite a long time. It is the British one Monarchy in danger? The majority of people empathize with the royal family’s dilemma. It’s about private things that the royals have to deal with. The monarchy is not in danger, but is in a temporary lull, if you will.
Couldn’t this also be a moment of reconciliation between William and his brother Harry, who emigrated to the USA?
No, I don’t think this will resolve this rift between Harry and William. He and his wife Megan sent Kate well wishes. This is at least a welcome gesture.
When King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, the two flew to Great Britain.
Given the situation, I don’t think it was ever an option for Harry to fly home to see Catharine. That would be a step too far. Nobody would feel comfortable with that because there is virtually no interaction between the two parties at the moment.
There are also rumors about Kate’s video message. There she says: “William stands by me.” But why didn’t he do that physically, on that park bench in the garden where the video was recorded?
Some people have asked themselves that. Most likely he was standing next to the camera and was present. I think that was a personal decision about how she wanted to convey her own issue to the outside world. No matter what they do, someone will find fault. If William had sat next to her, that would have been criticized too. You cannot win in such situations. There were rumors that Kate fell into a coma after Christmas. She’s recently been surrounded by all this toxic madness and ridiculous conspiracy theories about her relationship and her health. Hopefully this will at least stop now.
When could we next see the royals together?
It is currently Easter holidays. The family wouldn’t be visible to the public anyway because they always spend this time at their property in Norfolk. She then usually celebrates the Easter weekend in Windsor Castle, often with a church service on Easter Sunday. The king is already there. It is eagerly awaited whether we will see William, Catharine and the children together again for the first time. But in general, Kate will be out of the spotlight for some time.