KATE Middleton would’ve been “very aware” that her cancer message would “encourage and inspire people” and help to save lives, a royal expert has claimed.
The Princess of Wales, 42, courageously announced her health battle in a moving video last week in which she reassured the world she was “going to be OK”.
Kate Middleton’s cancer message had ‘hidden messages,’ according to Victoria Arbiter[/caption] The royal expert claims the Princess of Wales will help to save lives by sharing her diagnosis[/caption]Sitting on a bench surrounded by daffodils at Windsor Castle, she discussed her “huge shock” at the cancer discovery and explained how she had began a course of “preventative chemotherapy” late in February.
Since sharing the news, charities have reported seeing an increasing number of hits on their websites, with visits to the NHS cancer symptoms webpage averaging one every three seconds in the hours that followed.
Meanwhile, visits to the cancer homepage were also five times higher than normal over 24 hours.
Speaking to royal editor Matt Wilkinson for The Sun’s show Royal Exclusive, royal experts Dickie and Victoria Arbiter praised Kate and other members of the royal family for helping to shine a light on important health issues.
“We saw the same with King Charles when he talked about going in to be treated for a prostate enlargement,” says Victoria.
“It’s a condition that a huge lot of men struggle with and suffer from but they’re too embarrassed, too nervous, too scared to go to the doctor – or they don’t make time to go to the doctor.
“There was a dramatic increase.
“The same happened with Sarah, Duchess of York when she talked about her breast cancer last year, and again, when she addressed her skin cancer this year.”
Victoria goes onto say that not only does sharing such news allow members of the public to relate to members of the royal family, but it will also in turn “encourage and inspire people.”
She continues: “Cancer is a disease clearly that does not discriminate and if the King can be suffering from something, then it’s OK for me to go and see the doctor because here he is talking about it in a public arena.
“So in looking for the positives, that is one of them – and I think the Princess of Wales would’ve been very aware.”
Victoria also points out that there were “subtle messages” in Kate’s address to the nation, which saw her sitting on a bench noticeably surrounded by a sea of daffodils.
As well as being Wales’ national flower, she points out: “Some people will know that daffodils are the symbol of Macmillan cancer trust.
“She was sitting on a bench in front of daffodils when she delivered that message as well so there’s all sorts of symbolism in that message.”
Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery
JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside
JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week
JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital
FEBRUARY 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MARCH 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor
Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior
MARCH 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis
Dickie Arbiter agrees and says that if the royal family can talk about it and do something about it, then that’s a “very clear message” to the great British public and people throughout the world.
“By the King doing that first of all, going for enlarged prostate and then Buckingham Palace announcing that he has cancer, it was exactly the right thing to do,” he says.
“It sends out all the right messages to the population as a whole and throughout the world, and likewise with the Princess of Wales.
He adds: “Kate got her priorities right by talking to the family and children first, and then telling everybody what is wrong, what sort of treatment she’s getting and that she’s getting stronger and hopes to be back soon.”
King Charles has also been praised after revealing he’s being treated for a prostate enlargement[/caption]