ÉÉIn the United Kingdom, the news had the effect of a cold shower.
We learned on Wednesday, January 17, that Kate Middleton had been hospitalized since Tuesday in London for “scheduled” abdominal surgery.
And if the intervention was successful, Kate Middleton will remain at the London Clinic “ten to fourteen days”, specifies an official press release from Kensington Palace.
“Based on current medical advice, it is unlikely that Prince William's wife will return to public duties before Easter” on March 31, warns the palace, which will not say more, except “if there is significant new information to share.”
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A lack of details which does not reassure the British.
Since the announcement, the British press has been in shock, and the English have been in turmoil.
They know it: Prince William's wife would only interrupt her official commitments in cases of extreme necessity.
Enough to feed their concern.
In these circumstances, we hasten to consult the all-powerful tabloids, quick to answer the most burning questions.
The latter rule out, first of all, the hypothesis of cancer.
Read alsoPrince William visited his wife Kate Middleton in hospital
A “serious” state of health
Especially since what Kate Middleton is suffering from is “serious enough to keep her in hospital for up to two weeks and her convalescence is expected to take two to three months”, underlines the BBC.
“It is clear from the length of time Catherine is expected to remain in hospital and the tone of the statement issued by the palace that her state of health is serious,” the media continues.
Little by little, the (many) followers of the future queen consort gave in to panic.
What if their princess with record popularity (70% favorable opinions in a recent YouGov poll) was in real danger?
Already, the English media are praising them - almost funeral?
- of this princess they adore.
LISTEN TO SCANDALS
A collective emotion
We read for example, in the
Daily Mail
, that the forty-year-old is a “trustworthy person for the monarchy, thanks to her calm and perseverance (...)”.
“
Kate embodies the charm, politeness and resistance that the late Queen Mother had,” praises the English daily.
In the
Times
, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, former secretary to the royal family, compares Kate Middleton to the late Elizabeth II, emphasizing that the Princess of Wales also takes “her time to talk to people”.
The emotion even reaches the United States.
The
New York Daily News
features Kate Middleton's hospitalization on the front page of its website, as does
USA Today
.
In the
New York Post
, a royal family “admirer” sends his “prayers” to the mother of George, Charlotte and Louis.
At the same time, others are delving into Kate Middleton's medical history, and going back to her last official outing, perhaps thinking of seeing some clue there.
The ghost of Lady Diana
Faced with this media deluge, we try to catch our breath, disoriented.
After all, there is no reason to be alarmed.
According to Kensington Palace, Kate Middleton's operation went very well.
But then, why such a whirlwind of emotions?
Why can't we help but fear the worst?
Suddenly, behind this upheaval, we perceive the specter of another Princess of Wales, Lady Diana, who died at the age of 37, leaving two young children behind her.
We remember that dark summer of 1997, during which the United Kingdom suddenly lost its princess of hearts - and the whole world mourned with him.
Nearly thirty years later, England is still bruised - just look at the scandal caused by the production of
The Crown
, when it initially announced that it was going to stage the Fatal accident of Lady Di.
The wound caused to England, still raw, bears witness to this persistent trauma.
Trauma which inevitably resurfaces since this Wednesday and the Kensington press release, or the surprise announcement of the hospitalization of a young woman theoretically in good health.
The one who always supported her husband William, weathered the worst media storms and ensured her princely commitments without ever failing.
The one whose proximity to the English is still praised today.