Once, by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, I threw some bread into the water at a point where stone steps rise towards a riverside temple. Almost immediately, a congealing, writhing scrum of desperate, gluttonous fish rose up from the murky depths to compete for that bread. Audibly, their tails and fins slapped the brown water.
Think of Catherine Middleton as the bread and disreputable newspapers and social media outlets as the greedy fish - feeding with impunity. Manufacturing tales, promoting lies, endlessly speculating. Filling columns, contributing to the unholy din, mocking and disparaging, saying what the hell they wanted to say.
And now that Princess Catherine has told her sad and ongoing personal health tale, do any of those who were in the feeding frenzy pause for a moment to say "Sorry!"? No, of course they don't. They would probably prefer more of the same because truth does not sit comfortably in their agendas.
Sitting on a wooden park bench, Catherine looked older and thinner as she gazed into the camera. She has obviously been to hell and back - not that the voracious fish mob would care.
I'm not a royalist and for large parts of my life I thought of The Royal Family as an archaic encumbrance that symbolised historical privilege, preventing ordinary Britons from breaking down the barriers to success. My views have mellowed somewhat over the years. I think of Prince William as a decent, intelligent and compassionate man who fell in love with a good woman when he was at university in Scotland. Their three children seem adorable.
William and Catherine have done their royal duties for this country. They didn't run away to California. They were steadfast and uncomplaining, supporting good causes and trying to make a difference.
The least they could have expected was some kindness, some respect, some quietness when cancer crept into their lives. Instead, they were met with a deluge of intrusive nastiness. I wish them both well and hope that with the assistance of medical people, Catherine can leave this nightmare behind her and finally get the all clear.
I hope they are left alone. Chemotherapy made me more ill than I thought it possible to be. I suspect the King is having similar treatment.
ReplyDeleteGood job the media vultures were not circling you when you went through that.
DeleteThat poor family, having to deal with cancer and the fucking paparazzi that helped kill his mother. I hope her treatment goes well and I hope she's able to live her life as she sees fit. A long life is not promised to any of us.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true - no matter what your status.
DeleteI find it all very strange. We were told she wouldn't be on duty until Easter and the carry on has been going on for weeks already.
ReplyDeleteWith the King out of action and Kate's illness, William has a huge weight to carry.
I hope this quickly becomes a blip in a long happy life for the whole family.
I am sure she didn't want to address a camera yesterday but the feeding frenzy must have pushed her to this decision.
DeleteSadly, this is the state of the world, and the world media, these days. It's a feeding frenzy.
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be no barriers, no rules. It's a free-for-all.
DeleteThere had been rumors all week. the longer it went the faster the rumor came. Cancer is not a friend to anybody when it comes calling. I think everyone f us has lost someone to cancer ; We should have some empathy.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that decent, ordinary people do have empathy but not the media mob.
DeleteHow does the saying go? No news is good news. However, good news doesn't sell papers. Who buys papers, follows social media? Soaking it up like sponges? We do. So it's a little disingenuous to blame "the media" for the feeding frenzy. What was once gossip round the village well is now on the page, globally. Same difference.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, it's difficult to be in the public eye - little privacy, your every move scrutinized. However, "fame" [of whatever kind] does come at a price. It's how you deal with it that makes the difference. And Catherine conducted herself with dignity. Which, in return, will earn her many brownie points whilst keeping the Palace's PR machine well oiled.
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I didn't know Kate has cancer until I read it on another blog a few minutes ago. I like her a lot and hope the chemotherapy saves her. The last thing that family needs is another funeral. The media can all bugger off in my opinion and leave her alone with her family to help her. If she was just any other woman from That Road, Anywhere, they wouldn't bother.
ReplyDeleteQuite right.
DeleteI have never known such abominable behaviour by the media and some of the general public!
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely dreadful it must be, dealing with the physical, mental and emotional repercussions of a diagnosis of cancer and seeing all the lies and ludicrous opinions as to why she's been absent. Body double going shopping? Really?
I would like to think these people will now feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves but I doubt it.
My heart goes out to katherine and her family. I've been where she is now but at least i could face it on my own terms without having to explain all to people who don't care a jot for her and who just want to gossip.
Said from the heart.
DeleteI'm glad the truth is out. Maintaining this "secret" just made it something everyone wanted to know. ( The Sussex two hide their children, achieving a similar result)
ReplyDeleteLike it or not they are almost public property and held in high regard by most of us. Now we know the problem I'm sure they will be afforded the privacy they crave without this awful speculation. The best wishes of the majority are hopefully making them aware of the support and love being sent their way.
"I'm sure they will be afforded the privacy they crave...". Cynically, I am not sure at all Helen.
DeletePiranha, that is the fish that has the feeding frenzy, the public tail behind the media. May the family have peace and Katherine beat the cancer, and the king as well.
ReplyDeleteHear hear!
DeleteI've seen my fair share of cancer patients over the past years, and we all know it's not pretty. In that respect, Catherine and her family are no different from "ordinary" people - they worry, they care, they suffer when things go wrong and rejoice when they get better.
ReplyDeleteIt must just be infinitely more difficult when you're in the public eye.
As Ursula says, it's "us" who soak up the stories. Well, let me just make it clear that I do not include myself in that "us". I don't frequent social (or any other) media for news about the Royal family, actors, pop stars or any other celebrities. I am much more interested in my own family, friends and others in my personal sphere than in people whom I will never meet in my life.
I contend that I also do not belong to that particular "us". If I never heard any more Royal Family tittle tattle in my life I would be very happy.
DeleteHaving been on the same journey as Catherine, in private with the full support of my family, it was bloody hard, so this brave lady once again has shown she is able to handle her royal life, it's not all roses. I just wish they would leave them alone, give them their privacy, if not for the adults then think of the children, they are young and their mummy is ill. Our world is no longer a nice place to live if you are in any spotlight.
ReplyDeleteYes. Please leave them alone.
DeleteHugs to Catherine and family. Like Red says we have all lost loved ones to this illness. My mother for one. I hope they keep out of the limelight and she makes a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteMost people do don't want to hear the endless tittle tattle.
DeleteYou express my thoughts more eloquently than I could. I have personal experience of cancer whilst having a baby and toddler. That is the most devastating part for mothers - the thought of leaving your children motherless.
ReplyDeleteI think the English press have behaved reasonably well. My impression is that it is the foreign media who published the lurid conspiracy theories.
Nowadays you have got unscrupulous social media contributors stirring the cauldron. I am sorry to learn a little of what you went through Debbie.
DeleteWishing her and her family well. The press office needs to rethink how long they let this fester.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they could have played it better to reduce the inflammation.
DeleteI can't imagine having to face this most private of battles in the public eye. I have walked that walk, and I am thankful that it was not broadcast on the news media. The fish feeding frenzy you mentioned was a good analogy.
ReplyDeleteI was feeding fish on that river two weeks ago! But you're right. Let Catherine and William be in peace. I'm sure the last thing they need is "sympathy" from Ginge and Cringe all of a sudden!
ReplyDeleteIt helps that she's young, but yes, still shocking news. And really none of any of our business!
ReplyDeleteThe English press is really over the top. And was the main reason that Harry "ran away" to California. I can't imagine having cancer and dealing with the media at the same time. There is no way though, that the monarchy's every move isn't scrutinized through the lens of the press. It's part of the whole system. I wish Kate the best as I would for anyone going through this.
ReplyDeleteI hope she gets well soon.
ReplyDeleteMany people consider the Royal Family to be public property and think it's their "right" to know everything that goes on in their lives. Heaven help them if they have a problem they wish to remain private. Never mind, the paparazzi will fill in the gaps with prizes for the most lurid stories.
ReplyDeleteI feel so very sorry for Catherine and her family, and hope that she recovers completely. One thing is sure - she will come through this traumatic time with dignity and grace.
I was surprised at how old she looked so had to google her age. I was surprised at how old she was. I guess in the few pictures I see of her, she always looks like she is maybe 30 at most.
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