Palace Faux Pas: News Coverage of Kate Middleton's Mystery Illness Has 'Backfired' on the Royals and 'Created a Storm' of Negativity
News coverage of Kate, Princess of Wales and King Charles III's recent health concerns has perhaps not gone as palace PR gurus likely were expecting.
"I think that some of it's actually kind of backfired on the royal family. And I don't think that it's the royal family's fault necessarily," journalist Joanna Jarjue told an outlet.
"I think that it would have been good to have that kind of transparency from Kate as well as Charles, for the people who are worried sick and really concerned about her. But also it just creates this kind of storm," she added. "But I think some of the reporting, especially when it comes to William and how he's supporting her, I don't think that it's with the public as much as what certain people thought it would."
King Charles III, whose own prostate operation was a success on Friday, January 26, will be "more worried than anyone other than Prince William about" Kate, Princess of Wales, as she recovers from a "serious" condition that required abdominal surgery on January 16.
"He's a huge fan of hers. He thinks she's a great asset," royal author and historian Robert Hardman dished.
"She's fit, she's young, and she's out of action for three months," he added. "That's a cause for concern, not alarm, but he'll definitely be taking the view, 'For God's sake, don't make her feel she's got to come back to duties any sooner than she feels she needs to.' I don't think there's anyone who wants to put any kind of pressure on her."
The future queen is currently recovering in the London Clinic after abdominal surgery, and it will likely come as a surprise to many that conflicting reports suggest that Her Royal Highness plans to stay busy during her 10-12-week recuperation. A source close to the next Queen Consort said that she has an "unwavering commitment to duty" while sharing her intention to "work from bed."
"We don't know what's wrong or why she needed the operation," psychiatrist Dr. Max Pemberton told an outlet when highlighting Kate's predicament. "But Kate has always struck me as quite down-to-earth, level-headed, and stoical, so I'm sure she wouldn't have heeded medical advice and taken that much time off unless really necessary."
He continued: "Of course, there's always someone who will tell you how they had a hysterectomy in their lunch break, or their appendix removed while on the school run."
Royal analysts have pointed out how the recent royal health scares are not "societal moments of anxiousness" as they were under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. "People are just not as quick to revere the Crown as they were even as late as five or so years ago," a royal insider spilled.
GBN interviewed Jarjue.