Thunderclap in London.
Made public on Wednesday, Kate Middleton's admission to the London Clinic for “abdominal surgery” triggered a media tsunami across the world.
In the United Kingdom, the operation of the Princess of Wales is even perceived as a “shock”.
Especially since the same day, Buckingham Palace announced the hospitalization of King Charles III next week due to a “benign” enlarged prostate.
An unprecedented double event, considers Marc Roche, who has covered Windsor news for more than twenty years.
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Author of the column “Letter to Buckingham” for
Le Point
, this expert on the monarchy has written numerous works on the Windsors, including
The Borgias at Buckingham
(1).
From London, he shares with
Madame Figaro
his analysis of the situation that concerns the English.
Madame Figaro
.- On Wednesday, the announcement of Kate Middleton's hospitalization took the whole world by surprise.
How did the British react?
Marc Roche.-
They were deeply stunned because of the duality of this announcement.
Kate's admission to the London Clinic was a shock because she is a personality very popular with the public, who has done flawlessly since joining the Windsors, who is the future queen and wife of the next king of England and who above all ensured the descendants with three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
At the same time, an hour apart, Buckingham Palace announced the hospitalization of the king which, in turn, poses sovereign problems, namely who will be in charge of the monarch's functions during his absence.
In the past, the health of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip was a taboo subject
Marc Roche
Why such a whirlwind of emotions concerning the Princess of Wales, when Kensington Palace wanted to be reassuring about her state of health and confirmed to the press that it was not cancer?
This deep public emotion can be explained by the fact that Kate Middleton is young and that we did not expect it because she seemed rather healthy.
She is a sporty woman, who does not smoke, with a slender figure - even skinny.
The announcement of her admission to the London Clinic was therefore a shock, not only because she was thought to be in perfect shape but also because of the length of her hospitalization (from 10 to 14 days) and her convalescence (around 3 months). ).
As for the reassuring press releases from the Palaces on the health of members of the royal family, they are always taken with suspicion because in the past, the state of health of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip remained a taboo subject.
We must, for example, remember that even in the last moments of the queen's life, Buckingham wanted to be reassuring, while taking care not to give too many details about her real state.
However, this time, more information on the state of health of Kate and Charles has been revealed...
Yes and this is part of a new policy of transparency in health matters.
In the case of Charles III, it is because the king intends to encourage his male subjects to be screened for prostate problems.
On the other hand, regarding Kate, we don't know what's wrong with her.
Surely out of modesty and protection of privacy, but also because ultimately, its absence does not have major institutional effects.
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Behind this upheaval, is there not the ghost of another Princess of Wales,
Lady Diana
, who died at the age of 36?
No because the situations are not comparable.
Diana Spencer died after a car accident.
At the time of her death, she was no longer a member of the royal family, had lost her title of Royal Highness and was an outcast.
While Kate is Princess of Wales, still a prominent member of the Windsor clan.
That being said, the emotion towards Kate is real.
But we must also keep in mind that the death of Elizabeth II was only more than a year ago.
Since then, Charles, the new king, has made his mark.
William, as Prince of Wales and main heir to the throne, supports his father very well and he too has understood his role.
And as the bombs - Harry and Andrew - were defused, there was a certain tranquility within the British monarchy.
Peace of mind which has just been called into question with this double hospitalization.
In Kate's case, transparency is not total
Marc Roche
In its laconic press release, Kensington Palace speaks of a “planned abdominal surgical intervention”. However, Wales' agenda has just been completely shaken up with Kate's hospitalization and convalescence. Can we think that Kate's health has suddenly deteriorated?
At the Windsors, performance functions are planned six months in advance, like clockwork.
Security, media, guests... Everything is measured to the second.
So canceling public appearances, visits or official trips is not trivial.
This is a sign that the situation is very serious.
The general feeling is that the princess has a gynecological problem.
But these are only rumors... The fact remains that they worry the English.
Also read: Morning sickness, abdominal surgery and temple scar: Kate Middleton's medical history
You said it: in parallel with Kate, Charles III will be hospitalized next week due to a “benign” enlargement of the prostate. Medical details made public, as rarely before. Does this prove that Palace protocol has changed?
Palace communication was disrupted with the death of the queen.
Elizabeth II surrounded herself with soldiers, former major officials, diplomats... And as a result, she shared little information.
She also did everything to hide the smoking and alcoholism of her sister Margaret, the only member to have had serious health problems among the Windsors.
Charles III, for his part, chose to appoint the former deputy director of the
Daily Mail
, the country's leading popular daily, as head of his royal communications department.
The latter pushes the king for more transparency.
We feel it, there has been a desire for several months to better brief the press, to be less distant with journalists during official trips.
Concerning Kate's hospitalization, transparency is not total.
This is a half-hearted, half-sweet announcement.
Officially, it says it's for privacy protection.
But since they don't say anything, speculation is rife.
Personally, I believe that the Palace is not lying when it refutes cancerous reasons, because we would end up finding out one day or another.
(1)
The Borgias in Buckingham
, Albin Michel, May 2022, 336 pages, €20.90.