Kate Middleton Is Getting Compared to Princess Diana After Cancer Update Video: ‘It’s All There’
Six months after Kate Middleton sat alone on a bench and announced her cancer diagnosis to the world she revealed she’s “cancer-free” with her family by her side. However, one royal expert couldn’t help but “think of” one absent relative during the Princess of Wales’s deeply personal video, the 42-year-old’s mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Ahead, what reminded them of Diana in Kate’s cancer update video.
Kate Middleton is a ‘master communicator’ like Princess Diana in cancer update video
Speaking to Us Weekly, royal expert Christopher Anderson labeled Kate a “master communicator,” not unlike her late mother-in-law, Diana, who died 27 years ago in August 2024.
Her just over three-minute video on Sept. 10, 2024, offered a rare glimpse of Kate’s family life with her husband, the Prince of Wales, and their three children. Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, laughed and played in fields—and at the beach—with the occasional hug or hand-holding with their mom and dad. (Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, also made a quick appearance.)
Through it all, Anderson noted, there were nods to Diana. “Emphasis on family, healing, nature, empathizing with the health struggles of others—it’s all there,” he said. “It’s hard not to think of Princess Diana when you look at this video. She brought the same kind of energy to the royal family.”
Royal historian Gareth Russell echoed Anderson’s comments. He said the public display in Kate’s cancer update video was similar to what Diana did with William and his estranged brother, Prince Harry, when they were boys.
Kate and William are in ‘control’ of their ‘narrative’ like Diana
According to Russell, just like Diana before them, Kate and William told their story how they wanted to tell it. They were, he explained, in “control” of their “narrative” and how it’s presented publicly.
“It’s still a narrative in which you will see their personalities. And you’ll still see the emotions at the heart of the family,” he said. “I think culturally, in terms of the monarchy, it was very interesting and groundbreaking way to discuss something of this importance.”
“This does seem to be a very close loving family. And it was a much more emotionally demonstrative family,” the historian added. (Ahem, the unabashed public display of affection between William and Kate.)
“I do think this is not just the Wales’ managing their privacy and their family with the princess’ public profile. I also think this was a very clear declaration of how the Wales [family] would like to communicate with the public going forward.”
What Kate said in her cancer update video: cancer-free after ‘incredibly tough’ time
In the video posted to her and William’s social media channels, Kate revealed she’s cancer-free after completing chemotherapy.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,” she said. “Life as you know it can change in an instant. And we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
“This time has, above all, reminded William and me,” she later said, “to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”
Kate also noted her “path to healing and full recovery is long” as she continues “to take each day as it comes.” However, she’s also “looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
At the time of writing, Kensington Palace has yet to announce a date for Kate’s official return to royal duties. She made her last public appearance at Wimbledon in July 2024.
