The Princess of Wales..

[CurlewKate]

I just wanted to share some thoughts I've had since talking to some RL friends last night. I'm a Republican, and didn't actually post much on any of the threads on here. But I did read them, laugh at the ones I found funny and speculated a little IRL. I enjoy robust mental health, but I feel a little sad and down today about the news. And a little guilty. It occurs to me that it might be a real source of distress to some other people. Not the big media ghouls, of course, they have no shame and will just move on to the next thing without looking back, but for those of us who bought in to the whole farrago and maybe posted things we now wish we hadn't. So remember, the media often manipulates us, the establishment often lies to us and it's actually a good thing not to immediately take what we're told at face value. Don't beat yourself up and find someone to talk to if you feel really bad about it. Take care of yourselves.

The frenzy were already doing their thing before the photo.

Oh there was plenty of frenzy on here - absolutely vile rumours and accusations, well before the picture.

Excellent point. What were all those people like the OP reading, if not the British tabloids. Because, for once, they were not at the heart of this. IT was the American gossip press, US social media bot farms and Sussex Squad and a seemingly coordinated effort by WME stars. So is that who they were following?

Oh, just try and take some responsibility for your own actions, why don't you.

I have so much sympathy for them. 3 young children, illness which wasn't sudden, that is the scheduled surgery was obviously the result of ongoing medical problems, then finding out that cancer was present - but all with the world's media clamouring for information.

It was revealed staff at the hospital not privy to her records had tried to access them, that's terrible. Perhaps the press even tipped KP off that unless they make a statement soon the details will be revealed in foreign press. School holidays started yesterday so at least the children can be shielded somewhat, hence the timing.

Money may buy speedy access to drs, fancy hospital rooms and help at home but it doesn't stop chemo side effects, exhaustion, worry about your children etc. they are in many ways no different from any other family dealing with cancer. I just hope the treatment is successful for the kids sake mostly because they didn't ask to be born into royalty, they are just children worried about their mum.

Imagine what a difficult Mothering Sunday it was for Kate and William.

And by the way, if you have bupa (or similar) which many people do through work, you also get this kind of service, family and going through it currently. I'm sure she is getting the best, but it's still chemo

The frenzied are only happy when they're frenzying. (Did I invent a new word there? Call me Shakespeare.) The people who want to witter would find fault with anything and everything and enjoy themselves all day long wittering about the next bit of story that they've twisted.

'The Princess of Wales..' is such an odd title for this thread as the op is not about Kate but about OP's feelings of guilt. Feeling guilty / mortified / terrible about spreading nasty rumours about a sick woman would have been more descriptive.

I can now see how witch hysteria spread across Europe. People haven’t really evolved much have they.

In short?

No.

Still woman hunting. And not even the grace to admit that they were horrible.

A lot of people will be clapping themselves on the back for ending vicious posts with ‘I wish Kate well’ yadda yadda.

Completely ignoring the fact that they spent days stating/repeating/discussing the inane conspiracy theories which necessitated the statement made by the POW yesterday.

And still they refuse to see their place in that.

@SabreIsMyFave "CurlewKate · Today 10:36

That moral high ground must feel pretty good.....

This post has just negated everything you said in your first post where you appeared to be contrite and apologetic for the negative things you said about Kate. What a shame. You have literally just cancelled out your contrition. Didn't last long eh?"

I didn't personally say anything negative about the PofW. But that is beside the point. My comment about the "moral high ground" was directed at the posters who are choosing to lay into people who might have woken up this morning feeling shit. It must be lovely never to have done anything you regret.

I think the problem was that there was a bit of a vacuum left by the original KP announcement and of course, in the absence of real information, the rumour mill goes wild which was then made worse by the edited photo. Of course, common sense tells us that most images we see of celebrities and famous people are edited and tweaked so it shouldn't really have been a surprise but there are some people who really enjoy the gossip, especially outlandish gossip. as for the royals, PR is their lifeblood. The problem is that they only like it when they can control it, especially William who is known to be very sensitive about it all. I do think it goes with the territory of being royal and I don't think Kate is religiously reading social media. The royal family are public people who need the lifeblood of publicity to keep them relevant and they are also in receipt of large amounts of public money so from that perspective, I do think some people feel there should be more transparency. I think the way that the King's diagnosis was handled was great. It was short, to the point, open and he used it to encourage men to get tested - because of that there were no conspiracy theories just well wishes because everyone knew what was going on and it sucked any oxygen out of conspiracy theories. Of course, having small children means that W&K would have to be more careful about what they said and when because the children are their priority and not the general public. The days when royalty could dictate what went into the press/social sphere are over so openess is always best especially as 99.9% of people are very sympathetic when it comes to illness. other royals have been open about their illnesses - Queen Rania had a heart procedure, Crown Princess Mette-Marit has pulmonary fibrosis etc.

And Mumsnet, is enabling the witch hunt.

It doesn't seem that much of a leap to see what was going on with their PR during this period.
An announcement was made initially based on her early operation and treatment.
Then it became known that they were looking at a totally different scenario.
It's only been a few weeks since POW got her most recent diagnosis and it's no wonder they needed time as a family to digest what that meant for them.
FGS have a heart and ask yourself if you would have announced in FB that you'd just that moment been presented with a cancer diagnosis before you're come to terms with it yourself and made sure your nearest and dearest had a bit of time to process it.
I think the timeline is completely in step with how most families cope.
I know with my own Dad I couldn't even say the word 'cancer' for many weeks after he told us.
As a family we needed time and perspective , to understand treatment plans and what was ahead of us.
No one has tried to pull the wool over our eyes or manipulate us.
It is what it is.
That they decided to keep it private until they were ready really shouldn't be read any other way.
Have some compassion and just stop

Yes. But it's all Kensington Palace's fault, apparently 🙄

Honestly, you would have hoped that some people would have five minutes of self-awareness before pointing fingers at all and sundry, but no 😠

@MrsMamaMarshMops
Yes of course because the op has been so contrite she has abdicated all blame to KP and the media and is patting herself on the back for being such a nice person telling people not to.feel bad about their appalling behaviour and to look after themselves !

I have to agree. Some odd acrobatics in the OP from "I feel a bit guilty" to the teaching moment on how the media manipulate us (gosh, really?!) with a touch of Holly Willoughby's "Firstly, are you OK?"

@CurlewKate Reading between the lines, you quite enjoy a bit of online snarkiness and speculation about someone I assume you already knew was unwell and had three young children. Now you feel bad, which I guess is a step in the right direction, but are you going to change your behaviour going forward? Try this: if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it online; if you'd be mortified to be spoken about in a similar way, or to have your words publicly known, then find different words or try the novel idea of not pontificating on the internet.

This place is insane today .

I felt deeply disturbed by the sense of entitlement on here regarding another woman's personal health matters. It was like a feeding frenzy.

I have not watched the video and don't intend to.

Even now, when the cause of absence is revealed, MN is still in a feeding frenzy. I'm the same age as her and the idea of having to tell my children I have cancer is horrifying.

I do think some people feel there should be more transparency

But as you say later in your post, there was a reason they were not transparent.

Of course, having small children means that W&K would have to be more careful about what they said and when because the children are their priority and not the general public.

They chose the best option for their family.

They are not responsible for the nasty chatter of fools and stirrers.