THE TIMES: Where is Kate? The royal family attracts more speculation by the day

[TallerSally]

On today's front page, the Times' Kate Mansey reports on the contrasting approaches taken by KP and BP's comms teams in their handling of the extraordinary situation the RF's currently in. It kicks off with the current host of the US's Daily Show (formerly hosted by the formidable Jon Stewart) asking some questions:

"While the King hosted friends and met world leaders, the Palace’s reluctance to comment on the Princess of Wales’s condition has created a rising sense of panic
One of America’s most popular TV comedy programmes was asking the question that had captured the nation. It was not about the Super Tuesday primary contests ahead of the US elections, or the State of the Union address, which elicited an exaggerated yawn from the presenter.

Instead, The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng turned to look straight into the camera to ask: “Where is Kate Middleton? Where are you, Kate?”

There was no rush to provide reassurance this week from the Prince of Wales, who appeared to begin his working week on Friday with a visit to the Oval cricket ground for his Earthshot environmental campaign. Aides said that William had been busy all week, just not in a way that was visible to the public.

The King was doing the opposite. Away from public duties on doctors’ orders while he undergoes cancer treatment, the monarch had been expected to take this week as scheduled time off. Despite being told to “slow down” by the Queen, who took her own advice and flew to sunnier climes for a few days of relaxation, the King was ramping up.

He was photographed meeting world leaders and ambassadors from his living room at Buckingham Palace. Away from the cameras, he hosted friends who rallied round for afternoon tea and dinner dates. He insisted on the “more public” option of travelling between Buckingham Palace and his more comfortable private quarters at Clarence House in the State Bentley, so that he could “be seen”. Quite what the Queen made of it all from her sun lounger is anyone’s guess, but there are those in the palace who have an idea."

A tongue-in-cheek piece, but raises some interesting questions: have KP messed up the comms around Kate? and William? What is really going on with them? Why is the Royal family-funding public kept in the dark for so long, when usually not a couple of days go by without us having some nicely staged photo of some kind from Kensington Palace?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-is-kate-prince-william-king-charles-cancer-khktpx9bm

Someone upthread mentioned that maybe KP would issue a pic or some form of updated thanks and wishes for UK mother's day tomorrow. That could be nice, and I'm sure much appreciated by the public.

It might also be a good move for KP, given the debacle that their comms around both Kate and William have been so far, to show they understand that they need a change of tack with the public.

Maybe their recent terse statements about "we said bla bla bla and we stand by that and don't ask us again" are a bit like Boris Johnson's "I will never resign" the night before he quit, a bit of bravado before buckling under pressure?...

We shall see - only a few hours to wait...

@smilesy

I think it’s confusing for the public - the king talks about his prostate and cancer, Fergie talks about her cancers, Kate’s situation isn’t talked about as too terrible to share.

There’s a precedent for the public being told. That’s the thing.

I feel it’s her business and I wouldn’t want to intrude upon anyone’s privacy. But in recent times they have been very open, so I think that’s what drives all this speculation.

If it was Darren and Nicola down the road I'd be saying the same thing.

But the people who actually know William and Kate do know what’s going on. That’s not you. Or me. So we don’t.

(And their children are often not seen for months at a time, either. They still seem to be healthy and alive though).

How on earth can anyone find it baffling that someone would want to keep their private medical information private rather than having it splashed all over the tabloids.

It's baffling to me that anyone would be unable to comprehend this!

The royal family still exists thanks to nosiness, that’s why they exist actually. What would be the point of a country spending millions on a monarchy that lives a private life in these days?

I do think however that the silence is not just about Kate having a right to her privacy, she is far too considerate not to even write a thank you for your good wishes note. I think they don’t even know if she will be anywhere back to normal by Easter or June.

The precedent is for each individual to decide how much they want to make public and when

The employer, ie the entire country, is showing its usual general silliness when it comes to the Royal Family. Everyone, including Kate, is entitled not to have intimate details of medical conditions displayed to assuage morbid public curiosity.
Kate has been recovering from her surgery and all we are entitled to is wish her well.

Yes TallerSally. Last year didn't they show a sweet picture of the three children colouring in cards for Diana? Now you mention it, they surely must do another crowd pleasing message featuring the children? If they don't - super odd.

If it was Darren and Nicola down the road I'd be saying the same thing

If Darren had explained that Nicola had had an operation, and wouldn't be out and about until around Easter, I'd not worry about her well-being until Easter

Someone upthread mentioned that maybe KP would issue a pic or some form of updated thanks and wishes for UK mother's day tomorrow. That could be nice, and I'm sure much appreciated by the public.

In the past they have released a photo taken at some earlier point in time on Mother’s Father’s Day though - last years one in the tree for example was clearly not taken in March 2023! And it was m the same shoot that they used for their 2022 Christmas card photo, and William and Kate’s photo to mark their 12th wedding anniversary.

Just checked - the cards to Diana were 2021 so I'm two years out.

That's such a gorgeous picture! It should be on that nice royal pictures thread.

Funny that they acknowledge that the Daily Show is comedy but gloss over that the bit was making fun of the bizarre level of interest in her whereabouts. Americans are consistently bemused at the obsession that some of the British public/press has with the royal family.

Maybe , just maybe and going by scoobies comments in his "book" , she's been bunged in the stepford wives machine and is now miss functioning?????

Or she's had abdominal surgery and is recovering and won't be seen till Easter!

If Kate really is gravely ill then it's in extremely poor taste to be hounding her like this.

William would likely be absolutely terrified for their DC. After all, his own mother died when he was still a child. His DC are much younger than he was. Do you really think he needs to see all the speculation? What about Kate herself? I couldn't even begin to imagine how she would feel.

Can we not just wish her all the best and allow her to get through this in peace?

Yes and the public are demanding greater transparency and accountability from public figures. The RF should no longer be viewed as an opportunity for privilege (or idleness) at the public’s expense and quite rightly so. They need to prove their value for money. Yes, she is reported to have been unwell and yes, there has been a statement to that effect but it’s not surprising that people are questioning it if they feel they are being told to shut up and accept it without evidence or transparency. Hence Charles’ PR is spot on.

I do think the "where is Kate" questions are silly because we knew from the beginning that she would be off work until after Easter at least, and it's still a few weeks until Easter. Clearly she's not going to be doing engagements or being seen out and about.

I also think it's completely reasonable for her to have privacy and avoid announcing exactly what's wrong, if she doesn't want to. That does have the side effect that it has fueled a lot of this speculation, which is unfortunate. But I can't blame Kensington Palace for being discreet.

However I think where people are not unreasonable in being concerned is the complete opacity of the situation. It's two months after surgery, and there's not even a photo from the shoulders up showing her reading Get Well cards or anything like that. She absolutely has a right to privacy, but I don't think you need to be a "nutter" or a conspiracy theorist to be genuinely worried about whether all is well. I wonder if Kensington Palace realise that a lot of people really do care about the Waleses and the Royal Family in general, and want to know that Kate is okay, or do they think everyone is just a busybody?

I think the King has perhaps struck a better balance between privacy and transparency. They've kept private the exact cancer he has and the type of treatment he is having. But they have kept the public reassured that he's not currently acutely ill with a few appearances and updates.

@TheSparkofCreation

Well said

She's had a serious operation, quite likely one she doesn't want her young children to have explicit details of l, and she is recuperating away from the public gaze with the support of her family and staff. Nothing more to add so there's been no updates

I don't often find myself agreeing with Meghan Markle but wow
“We’ve Forgotten About Our Humanity” rings strongly here. What is wrong with some of you?

I hope she’s ok, and recovering, but I there there must be some mahoosive super-injunctions in place, and I do wonder why.

100% agree @JaneAustensHeroine

I wouldn’t have previously… however then I visited Windsor - which I thought was meant to be the little castle…… beautiful, but a horrifying level of wealth…

I was never a fan of Charles, but I think they’ve handled his situation better. William (because Kate is a reflection of him) comes across as arrogant and above accountability.

I suspect it’s as simple as they are trying to carve out separate private lives for themselves, to set the precedent on how they will behave as the future monarchy. They just didn’t expect it to backfire so badly.

George Bush Jr. Almost choked to death on a pretzel. He survived only because his Scottie barked so much that the Secret Service decided to check on him. The US public did not hear about this for years. I am fine with that fact.

That entirely depends on Darren's character, surely?! Not all husbands and fathers are created equal. I don't know the Prince of Wales, so have no way of knowing whether he's generally decent and trustworthy or not. I'd like to think so though.

Agree @Justkeeepswimming and William’s wish to focus on specific projects, while great for him, may not reflect what the public want or expect of the RF. He has forgotten that it’s not about him and what he wants and his grandmother (Elizabeth) isn’t around to remind him.