unsaveSave
expand-left
full screen Kensington Palace in London after Princess Kate’s cancer announcement. Photo: Alberto Pezzali/AP/TT
First King Charles, now Princess Kate.
The fact that they both have cancer puts pressure on Prince William and the British monarchy.
– There is a lack of young people in the British monarchy, says journalist Ebba Kleberg von Sydow.
On Friday night, the British princess Kate went out in a video and told us that she has cancer. The announcement comes just over a month after her father-in-law, King Charles, told about his cancer.
One of the reasons why the news is coming now is that medical staff have tried to access Kate’s medical records, and another is that British schoolchildren are on Easter break – which means that the family hopes to have peace and quiet, according to Ebba Kleberg von Sydow, journalist and current in Sveriges Radio’s podcast “The Monarchs”.
Pressured from several sides
Now Prince William is under pressure from several quarters to represent the British royal house with both father and wife ill. The king’s siblings Princess Anne, Prince Edward and the king’s wife Camilla have also undertaken more tasks than before for the British monarchy.
– Camilla is 76 years old and the king’s siblings are also getting older. They have already taken over the king’s duties and cannot cover up any more. It is likely that the British court’s commitments will instead have to be reduced, says Ebba Kleberg von Sydow.
– The natural thing would have been if Prince Harry had gone in and covered up. Instead, it has become clear that Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have left the British monarchy and that two young people are missing, she says.
On the question of whether the illnesses will lead to Prince William and his brother Harry burying the hatchet, opinions differ among court experts.
– I think there is a chance that the hatchet will be buried at least temporarily, and that Harry can come to the UK for a while now that the family is in crisis, says Johan T Lindwall, editor-in-chief of Svensk Dam.
Many questions
But court expert Roger Lundvall does not think that is likely.
– The royal family does not trust Harry and Harry is so hated in Britain. I don’t think he will come to the rescue, he says.
Although many questions remain regarding Princess Kate’s illness, the court experts TT spoke to believe that the media and public will now leave the royal family alone.
Instead, the discussion will above all be about whether the media debate has been too harsh and speculative.
– We must not forget that there is a reason for the heavy media coverage. But there is no right or wrong here, because at this point it becomes clear that the royal family are symbols but also people. In situations like this, things collide, says Ebba Kleberg von Sydow.