For the past few months, there has been worldwide intrigue about Catherine, Princess of Wales. Where was she? Was she unwell? What was wrong? Never mind the fact that the official statement was that she underwent planned surgery and would be returning to the public eye after Easter, the lack of information and transparency about the future Queen allowed serious questions to abound. In an apparent effort to quell the few rumblings of concern, Kensington Palace released a photo of the mother of three with her children to celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK. But in a shocking twist, reputable news agencies issued kill notices within hours to remove the photo due to manipulation. In editing the photo, it now did not meet the strict standards for these major outlets. Upon this discovery, older photos, including some with the late Queen Elizabeth II, came under scrutiny. The Palace was in the middle of a public relations crisis, with global news director Phil Chetwynd of Agence France-Presse quoted as saying it was now not a trusted source. The few rumblings of concern became loud with proof-of-life demands on a mass scale.
But on March 22, Princess Catherine bravely sat in front of the camera to address the world. Sitting in her sunny yet subdued garden, she announced her cancer diagnosis. After months of silence, she allowed the public to see her intimately: Kate, the 42-year-old mother recovering from major surgery, reeling from devastating medical news, and preparing herself for upcoming chemotherapy. The video address was personal and heart wrenching, and in terms of public relations, it was critical in swaying the world from gossiping conspiracy theories to wishing for her health, wellness, and care. Why was this peek into her private life the only thing that had the power to quash the rumors? How was this speech able to shift public opinion back to the royals’ side? Authenticity.
Authenticity is in limited supply these days, yet we still have a deep need for it. The reason “Where is Kate Middleton” conspiracies were swirling is because the public sniffed out the institution’s cover up, immediately raising suspicions and hackles. While the concern was misplaced —the Firm was not covering a disappearance, affair, or death as some alarmists suggested, but was instead covering Princess Catherine with a shield of sorts to allow her to heal and process the news— the world became more involved and worried with every moment of heavy silence. The Palace had lost all credibility until Catherine stepped in. She was the only one who could turn a suspicious mob into a gentle flock. The demanding chants became soothing words of comfort, and the world fell hushed as it began to whisper health over her. In a world of smoke and mirrors, with sleight of hand to boot, when we see something that is real and genuine, we pause in respect.
The pitiful thing in all of this is that Catherine —Princess of Wales though she is— is a person. Yes, she is a public figure, and it is right to expect certain positions to be forthcoming with personal health updates as they affect the job. For us in the United States, we had our own national upset when the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had health issues and secretly underwent surgery in December of last year, followed by an undisclosed hospital stay in January. It was a huge scandal that made us think about how much privacy one is allowed, and forced the administration to revisit official procedures for such instances. While that role is one that holds serious authority and requires decision making that affects the entire country (and subsequently the world), the monarchy does not hold that same position. However, we cannot ignore that on some level, privacy cannot be fully granted to those in such visible seats of power.
But authenticity should never be forced. The crusade for real shouldn’t end with a sword at someone’s throat — forcing someone to peel back the layers to their own vulnerability is cruel. There’s a right way to request transparency, and it is to first show authentic compassion. If the public had simply held concern for the hidden Princess, and been able to reasonably explain why her absence was so noted, it could have allowed Catherine to retain her sense of safety while informing the Firm that strict silence (and then misplaced blame) protects no one.
Authenticity is the cornerstone of genuine trust and integrity. For those in positions of authority, transparency and authenticity should be common goals when you speak to the public. But we would do well to remember that it is not an inherent right to know everything. People deserve privacy, and to bully their most intimate secrets out of them is malicious. Even as we strive to hold our leaders accountable, we can show our moral compass by allowing empathy and kindness to reign.