“What do you think being a princess is like?” my mother asked me as we watched the melancholic retelling of Lady Diana’s story from the Netflix-original drama series, The Crown. If that question were directed to seven-year old Anika, the delightful thought of fancy ballgowns and beguiling banquets would make her answer: “A fairytale dream come true!” But as I, the Anika of the present, gazed at the stoic expression of the late princess in her iconic interview with Martin Bashir, I replied, “I really don’t know.”
If there was one thing I knew, it was this: behind the glitz and glamor of royal life were serious obligations to fulfill and a test of character amid the unpredictabilities of life in the public eye. This was reality for the British royal family, and the monarchy had just entered its most vulnerable phase yet.
Following Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales’ public statement of temporary leave from her royal post last January having undergone abdominal surgery, her father-in-law, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer a month after. The announcement was shocking, but the king continued to tend to his duties.
In her two dormant months, Middleton became subject to various conspiracy theories about her whereabouts, including speculations of a secret divorce from her husband, Prince William. The onslaught of cruel jokes were at its peak until the princess decided that enough was enough—it was time to speak her truth. During late March, Kate Middleton posted a video online, explaining that she, too, has cancer.
In the perspective of Prince William, it seemed devastating enough to receive news that both your wife and father had contracted terminal illness, not to mention the difficulty of rearing your children in this dire situation, worsened by the fact that word has spread about the alleged fragility of mom and dad’s marriage. To top it off, being the heir to the throne doesn’t make the job any easier, only more emotionally taxing.
Another true and tragic tale befalls the royals; those with prestige, privilege, and platform wound up telling the same story of being human. The family must strengthen their courage on par to the magnitude of their adversity, now more than ever. But what’s the moral lesson of the story on our part? Think of words as something meant to be ingested—kind remarks would supplement a person, while otherwise harmful ones draw potent poison with a challenging shot at recovery.
Oftentimes, it’s OK to not really know what people are going through. What there is to know, however, is the space and boundaries we owe others. People don’t always owe us an explanation, especially when going through their own battles in the arena of life. Simply put, the least we can do is be selfless—a world governed by cruelty is deserving of more kindness.
Story by Anika Uy
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