Maybe I’m misreading the general mood, but it feels to me like the Princess of Wales’s video, where she spoke about her cancer and chemotherapy, mollified the casual royal-watchers in every sense. We saw Kate and most people believe that the video is authentic. We also completely understand why Kate needs some time to rest and recover. That was one of my biggest takeaways – Kate won’t be seen for a while (or she’ll only be seen sparsely) and everyone understands that and has compassion for that. Alongside that, my assessment of the general mood is a kind of general ambivalence towards the monarchy. People aren’t super-concerned about the longevity of the institution either way. King Charles and the Princess of Wales will be largely MIA for months and their absences are being met with a shrug. It’s also being met with a very telling briefing storm from Buckingham Palace, all about how this is just a minor blip, everyone will be back to work soon enough.
A double health scare which has left the King and Princess of Wales unable to carry out public duties as they undergo cancer treatment is a “temporary blip” and not a “seismic change” for the monarchy, palace sources have said. The King is said to be “very positive” and his doctors “optimistic”, as aides plan for him to build back to resume his fuller schedule of engagements “towards the summer”.
But, one source told The Telegraph: “It’s a temporary blip, not a seismic change.” They added: “It feels like a short period where there has been understandable concern. But the King is very positive, his doctors are optimistic, and you can see the impact of treatment has not impeded him. What’s pretty incredible is how the business of state has continued. The Queen is fulfilling her duties, the King is undertaking all of his constitutional workload and I think we’ll continue to see royal activity across the board.”
The King has made a conscious effort to be photographed undertaking his key duties, including issuing a rare video from his private audience with the Prime Minister, pictures of him welcoming visiting diplomats, and regular shots of him in the car to and from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. The Queen will carry out three engagements this week, including representing the King at the annual Royal Maundy service.
Of the King’s future return to public engagements, the palace source said: “We continue to plan for an optimistic outcome, building towards the summer.”
Ailsa Anderson, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, told GB News: “It’s not a crisis. A crisis is an abdication. Crisis is not knowing the line of succession. This is a bump in the road. It is not a major earthquake in my opinion. You’ve got two senior members of the Royal Family who are ill, who are being treated for cancer. But hopefully this is a blip and going forward they will recuperate and carry on doing the amazing work that they do. I think going forward, let her [the Princess of Wales] have some peace. Let her have some privacy. Let the family have some privacy so she can recuperate. And the palace shouldn’t be providing a running commentary, absolutely. We never did when the late Queen was unwell or Prince Philip. We always say we’re not going to provide a day-to-day commentary on their condition.”
Asked by host Camilla Tominey, also The Telegraph’s associate editor, whether the Royal family is too small, she said: “I think the balance is right at the moment. Obviously, we have two members of the Royal family out of action, but they will come back into the fold again.”
It feels like the public understands that the “working royals” are going to do less and be seen infrequently, but the panic with which the palace is briefing everyone that it’s just a minor blip is causing some concern. After all, Queen Elizabeth’s bone cancer was downgraded in palace briefings as “mobility issues” and “some pain.” It’s not just the clownery from Kensington Palace – there is a palpable sense of panic within the institution and within the royal press that everything has gone t-ts up. Even worse, there are concerns that people won’t actually miss the privacy-obsessed royals, to the point where British people will get used to not seeing them or thinking about them at all.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.