Adopted by the British for many years, Kate Middleton deeply moved the world on March 22 by sharing a video on Instagram, in which she revealed that she was suffering from cancer, at the early age of 42. Mother of three children, wife of Prince William and future Queen of England, Kate Middleton is dear to the heart of the public, and this diagnosis aroused fears, sadly evoking the sudden disappearance of Lady Diana. However, the Princess of Wales’ announcement was also met with much love and kindness. The public and members of the royal family have offered their support to the princess, as have former aides such as Paddy Harverson, the former Crown press secretary, who knew Kate Middleton before her marriage to Prince William and who helped her manage the media harassment she was subjected to.
He told the BBC that he was convinced that the Welsh couple had the strength of character sufficient to overcome this ordeal, which is not the first: “They are very strong,” he said, adding: “When I first met Kate, she would sometimes call me in the middle of the night and say, ‘Paddy, I don’t want to bother you, but there are paparazzi outside or men in a car driving are chasing me.'” This anecdote brings back many memories from more than a decade ago, during which Kate Middleton was constantly chased by photographers. “She always showed great strength and she didn’t want to dramatize the situation, but she felt that she needed help. So I trust them as a couple and individually, and I am convinced that They will get through it”, concluded Paddy Harrison.
⋙ PHOTOS – Kate Middleton, Françoise Hardy, Michel Cymes… they broke the taboo on cancer
Kate Middleton suffering from cancer: a widely considered announcement
After years of being the target of photographers, then living under the eye of the media, Kate Middleton would have long hesitated to make her fight against cancer public. It was ultimately King Charles III who encouraged her to do so. According to information from Time Magazine, published in an article on Sunday March 24, if the Princess of Wales decided to announce her illness, it is partly thanks to King Charles III’s choice of transparency regarding his own health. Noting the positive reaction of the public following the announcement of the monarch’s cancer, Kate Middleton would have found the courage to share the news. A source close to the Palace, interviewed by our colleagues, reportedly declared: “The warm and affectionate messages received by the king after his announcement, which did him so much good, were one of the factors which pushed Kate Middleton to make the decision to make her illness public.”
Article written in collaboration with 6Médias.
Photo credits: Julien Burton / Bestimage