Reason King Charles shares updates while Kate Middleton opts for privacy revealed

Two royally different approaches

Here’s why the King and the Princess of Wales have taken a considerably different stance to publicly sharing updates regarding their health. 

Off the back of a series of unexpected, yet serious health updates from the Palace, two senior members of the Royal Family (and their hardworking PR teams) have taken considerably different approaches to their ongoing handling of information. 

King Charles III, having ascended the throne in September 2022, publicly shared his decision to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate last month. More recently, a statement was issued last week on behalf of the King revealing an unexpected cancer diagnosis. 

In the same week that Charles first announced his initial prostate treatment, the Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital to undergo abdominal surgery. While a statement was publicly issued detailing her suspected time off from royal duties while she recovered, specific details about her diagnosis and treatment plan were not shared. 

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The Windsors are an eclectic bunch of individuals, bonded by their collective sense of duty and historically cemented authority. The three remaining active generations of the family have maintained a strong relationship with the public for decades, both in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. 

So, why are some members of the Royal Family keen on remaining tight-lipped when it comes to personal updates, while others are more than willing to release a statement (or bestselling memoir)? And more importantly, are we, the public, entitled to such private information?

A patient’s right to privacy 

As royal expert Gareth Russell shares with Us Weekly, neither Kate nor Charles’ response to their respective health condition is more acceptable than the other. 

“Simply because one patient is comfortable discussing their health in a certain way does not mean both patients should be,” Russell says. “Just stepping back from the royal aspect of things for a moment, patient privacy is still a really important and a fundamental right.”

While we could spend days speculating on the matter, ultimately, each royal’s decision to update the public comes down to personal preference. “Sometimes when you are a patient, even if you have the ability to raise awareness, you are still maybe processing some of this yourself,” he adds. “Maybe you want to take it at your own timetable.”

The differences between King Charles’ and Princess Kate’s approach

While they are both considered to be senior members of the Royal Family (in public duty, not age) there are a few fundamental differences between Charles and Kate that could account for their different approaches to sharing their health updates.

For a family– and institution– that has carved out its notoriety and preserved its influence by remaining frustratingly neutral on almost every social, political and international matter to impact the United Kingdom, Charles has always publicly voiced his opinions. Kate, on the other hand, having married into the institution over a decade ago, has traditionally opted for a more soft-spoken, liberal approach to public matters. 

And while specific details on both Royals’ conditions have been omitted from any shared statements, we do know they are experiencing very different illnesses with very different treatment plans. 

The Princess of Wales, who underwent major abdominal surgery recently, is said to be spending the next few months recuperating and recovering, stepping away from public engagements that would have been organised well in advance. 

“So there’s much more to suggest that the Princess of Wales was undergoing quite serious surgery as she mentioned in her statement, and that there was an unexpected element to it,” Russell says. “She was very apologetic in that statement to people whose events she would have to cancel on attending.”

Given the opportunity to spread awareness for a very common– and potentially fatal– health issue impacting almost all men at some point, it seems the King has openly shared his initial treatment plan and subsequent cancer diagnosis in a bid to shine a light on the importance of taking our health seriously. 

“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer,” the recent Palace statement shares.

Originally published as Reason King Charles shares updates while Kate Middleton opts for privacy revealed