According to royal expert Valentine Low, Kensington Palace felt pressured to disclose Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis amidst a flurry of conspiracy theories.
Low, author of “Courtiers: Intrigue, Ambition, and the Power Players Behind the House of Windsor,” suggested that the overwhelming speculation following the Princess of Wales’ abdominal surgery in January may have hastened the announcement.
In an exclusive interview with Page Six, Low commented, “They probably felt the pressure to announce. It was too much to bear in the end, they had to say something.”
The surgery was successful, with Middleton, 42, expected to remain in the hospital for ten to fourteen days before continuing her recovery at home, as per a statement on Instagram. The statement also highlighted Middleton’s desire to maintain normalcy for her three children with Prince William: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
In the weeks following the surgery, increasingly outlandish conspiracy theories emerged, fueled by a poorly edited family photo released on UK Mother’s Day. Even a sighting of Middleton and Prince William shopping in Windsor failed to quell the speculation. However, the speculation came to an end when Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video appearance.
In her statement, Middleton admitted that the news was a shock and emphasized the importance of explaining the situation to her children.
This isn’t the first time Middleton has had to address her health publicly. During her pregnancies with George and Charlotte, the palace revealed her struggle with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness.
Low highlighted Middleton’s determination to protect her privacy but noted that the couple likely felt compelled to address the situation eventually. He also suggested that those who propagated the conspiracy theories should feel remorseful for their actions.
