Kate Middleton’s health is all we’ve been searching online, reading about and discussing for months. Here’s why it’s time to put this story to bed.

After the Princess of Wales released an official update on her condition, revealing the reason for her public reclusion over the past few months, the media has talked of nothing but Kate Middleton. 

We, like every publication across the world, have jumped on every Palace statement, confirmed sighting and official update regarding the Princess like a dog chasing after a ball. 

And while it hasn’t been the only story worth covering, it’s certainly been the one people can’t help but click on, soaking in every last detail. But the latest move from The Princess and her team is a reminder of what’s really at stake here.

With an announcement as shocking as this was, from a person so beloved worldwide, more than a few front-page headlines were to be expected. But, our tenacious curiosity has no doubt overstepped its boundary, encroaching on the Princess and her family’s privacy. 

As the dust settles this week, it’s time to shift our energy as content creators and content consumers elsewhere. 

Because, at the core of this story, are two parents desperately trying to shield their three young children from the madness of the worldwide media. 

The same three children that spent the first hours of their lives being madly papped on the steps of the hospital. The three children who not long after grieving the loss of their beloved great-grandmother, are possibly being made aware of their grandfather’s own cancer diagnosis. 

And the three children who upon finishing their school term, will likely spend their Easter break learning about their mother’s illness and the confronting treatment she has already embarked upon.

Why are we so obsessed with the Royals?

As someone who actually has a history degree (yes, they do exist), let me do my best to provide a little context. 500 years ago, the person sitting atop England’s throne essentially held more power and influence than anyone, especially after Henry VIII’s establishment of the Church of England. 

A perfect example of ‘If he wanted to, he would,” the infamous six-time-wedded monarch separated his kingdom from the Pope’s Catholic hold and declared himself head of state and church to obtain a divorce from wife number one. It was a period where the Royal Family called the shots in every sense of the word and a simple peep of criticism could leave you without a head. Literally. 

But centuries later, thanks to countless parliamentary reforms, a few particularly irresponsible monarchs, and a wise consensus amongst the English people that a single King or Queen probably shouldn’t have free reign over every political, economic and social matter, the Royal Family plays a significantly different role today. 

By the power of nepotism, the Windsors – descendants from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – have been ruling the British commonwealth for nearly 200 years. And while they still possess a comically large portfolio of land, property and income, the Royals today are more akin to celebrities than political figures.

The Royals’ give-and-take relationship with the media

Just as the Royal Family have adapted to function in modern society, so has the role of the media. Perhaps the most complicated relationship dynamic since Big and Carrie, the media and the Royals foster a unique codependency. 

It’s a dance no one knows better than Prince William, who has lived each day of his life under the watchful eyes of the world. It’s a blinding spotlight that has no doubt shaped the person he has become, with the unfortunate loss of his mother (and the indisputable role the media played) no doubt influencing how he and his wife are navigating their current situation. 

And yes, it most certainly is the role of the media to report on, comment on, and spread newsworthy stories about newsworthy people. But journalism and reporting have changed immensely over the last few decades, with social media completely altering the landscape in which content is created, shared and absorbed. 

Anyone with a keyboard and stable WIFI connection can jump online anytime, write about anything they please, and promote their opinions alongside well-researched, ethical pieces of content. 

Because these days, with a never-ending supply of news popping up every time you open an app, people are spoon-fed a uniquely curated algorithm, mostly made up of content they already align with, or viral clickbait.  

In the case of the Princess, the ridiculous and defamatory stories created to fill the silence from the Palace – from scandalous affairs to comas and psychological breakdowns – were given free rein on the internet, racking up views and clicks faster than anyone could ever anticipate. 

As journalists, we’ve written stories from every possible angle, squeezing every drop of juice from the Royals these past few months. Now, after watching a video that feels like the product of Kate Middleton being backed into a corner, it’s time to put our pens, keyboards and camera phones down. 

There’s no doubt Catherine and her family will soon be back cutting ribbons and shaking hands as senior members of the working Royals, but no amount of conspiracy theorising on Reddit is going to speed up the process.  

In the meantime, it’s time to turn our attention to other stories, and let the Wales’ rest and recover away from the glare of our ever-shining spotlight, as the Princess so graciously asked of us all.