Flood of support, calls for privacy after Princess Catherine’s cancer news

British publicist Mark Borkowski said in an interview Saturday it had been a “roller coaster” for royal PR, but the video was proof the royal family remains “a very powerful institution, it has an ability to regain control.”

Borkowski said the carefully made video released by Catherine was “extraordinary” and a “tidal wave” sweeping away all of the conspiracy theorists and doubters. “One has to praise the poor woman for showing so much dignity and grace.”

He noted that Catherine and other female members of the royal family, including “Margaret, Fergie, Diana,” traditionally contended with more “misogynistic treatment by the media” than their male counterparts. Borkowski was referring to Princess Margaret; Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; and Princess Diana, the late mother of Catherine’s husband.

“You have to be part-fashion model, part-soft politician to be a woman in the royal family,” Borkowski said. “They have to work harder … and Kate is box-office royal family on the front page of every tabloid in the world.”

While Charles was able to tell the nation about his cancer diagnosis in February via a statement from Buckingham Palace, Borkowski noted that Catherine had to be seen.

“If it had been a statement, no one would have believed it and maybe all the crazy rumors would have carried on percolating. Now, there’s a massive full stop … and a clear call for privacy.”

There is some online debate over whether Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, should return or take up more responsibilities amid a slimmed down senior royal family. Borkowski said he thought it was “very, very unlikely” the couple would return from California. “The wedge is too deep,” he said. “That would just generate so much negative publicity.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/23/kate-middleton-cancer-support-privacy/