‘Nothing in her diary’: Princess of Wales’ major life overhaul revealed after video appearance

The Princess of Wales popped up in a surprise new video this week – and it hid a sobering truth as her cancer battle continues.

It gives me huge pleasure to report that one of the hardest working members of the royal family would appear to be taking a well-deserved break.

Not Princess Anne, the woman most likely to open a roundabout, or even the 88-year-old Duke of Kent, who only a couple of weeks ago was posted off to do a nine-hour return trip to visit a lifeboat station.

I mean Kate, the Princess of Wales’ curling tongs.

On Monday, she and husband Prince William released a video congratulating the British Olympic team, one of only a handful of times that she has been seen this year. In place of the Princess’ generally twirled and twiddled locks, her look seemed to owe more to a rough finger combing slash healthy spritz of dry shampoo.

I could not support this low-fi approach more enthusiastically given the woman is enduring a year that gives new meaning to “trying”.

But Kate’s more relaxed hair is not the only change that’s in the wind and new details suggest that when the Princess of Wales returns to public life, things could look rather different.

Our source is a friend of the Princess and husband Prince William who has spoken to the Daily Beast’s Tom Sykes, telling him that the 42-year-old has been reassessing life as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

William and Kate made a new appearance in a video congratulating the UK Olympic team.

Here’s the good news part. According to this pal, Kate’s health battle is “not over but there is lots of optimism, lots of positivity”.

“It is obviously still an incredibly worrying time but all the signs are that her cancer treatment, which is ongoing, is progressing well,” the source said.

And so let a silent cheer go up as we thank the best modern medicine money can buy and the collection of healing crystals Queen Camilla sent around.

However, this friend has told Sykes that the Princess’ “brush with mortality” could see her change things up – and that workhorse curling iron of hers could be off duty for a while yet.

“My understanding is that people are going to have to get used to seeing a lot less of Kate. The priority for her now is going to be family and the children,” they told the Beast.

“Like a lot of people who have a brush with mortality, Kate is going to prioritise the things that matter to her from now on. In her case, that means her kids.

“There is still nothing in her diary.”

Similarly, a Buckingham Palace source has told Sykes the Princess is not expected to join the rest of Crown Inc when they all forlornly amble back to their posts in September for a fresh round of lifeboat inaugurating and hospital ward-opening. (Can a plaque unveil itself? Exactly).

Kate, Princess of Wales at Wimbledon, in one of her few public appearances this year. Picture: Andrej Isakovic/AFP

Given William is set to travel to South Africa in November for this year’s Earthshot Prize, it sounds like he will be making the trip solo.

There is another factor to consider here, because the Princess is, of course, not the only member of the royal family currently doing battle with cancer.

While King Charles has been seen far more regularly this year than this daughter-in-law, the royal friend offers a less cheery view, saying “he is still unwell … It is being fantastically well managed to give the impression that everything is fine”.

And that, in turn, could have major, permanently life-altering consequences for Kate and her kids. ("Mum has to pose for the new 50p stamp today, you’ll have to pack your own lunch”.)

While the Queen Mother, the late Queen and Prince Philip all ended up as bywords for longevity (the Prince only retired at age 97), Charles’ health woes mean that the chances of him doing likewise might not be what they once were.

She also popped up at Trooping the Colour. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The King’s situation “has very much focused Kate’s mind on the fact that there may only be a few years of freedom left,” the friend told the Beast.

“What does she want to do with them? Nurture her kids and try her best to equip them for the life ahead of them.”

Here’s the “but” part of things – Kate might want to be clocking up all the bonding, quality time and heartwarming, muddy memories she can, but the significant reduction in working members of the royal family over the last few years also means that Crown Inc’s need for her to be out there front and centre is greater than ever.

This week, Kate is believed to be in Scotland, holidaying avec William and their kidlets, with the Glorious 12th marking the beginning of the hunting season.

There is no word, at the time of writing, about where her curling tongs have gone for their much-needed break.

Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and a royal commentator with more than 15 years’

experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles.

Originally published as ‘Nothing in her diary’: Princess of Wales’ major life overhaul revealed after video appearance