Kate's illness has become a state matter. The Princess of Wales's secrecy from the state is proving more than counterproductive for the Crown, an institution that depends on popularity among citizens for its very existence. After the protagonist herself has acknowledged that she edited the photograph published on the occasion of Mother's Day in the United Kingdom – the same one with which she tried to say that she was alive and well – suspicions that something is wrong are increasingly credible.
Palacio refuses to reveal the original image. According to the conservative magazine “The Spectator”, his only option now is “to act more candidly, however embarrassing and intrusive it may be.” “Otherwise, this debacle will only fuel sensationalist information that could end up being existentially damaging to his reputation,” he clarifies.
Any company knows that it cannot harass an employee who is on sick leave. It is counterproductive as well as illegal. But with the Monarchy things work differently. And Kate knew it perfectly when she married the heir to the throne on April 29, 2011.
The British Justice ruled at the time that the right to privacy extends to members of the royal family and the editors' code of ethics, under which a large part of the British press operates, protects everyone against unjustified interference. in matters of physical and mental health.
But with The Firm – financed by the taxpayer – this is an extremely complex issue. The reality is that since the early years of Queen Elizabeth II, the British royal family has validated itself through publicity. He did not follow most European monarchies. He did not treat his status as purely ceremonial. There was only one form of legitimacy in this approach: by continually exposing its image. They became a kind of adored celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic. America has Hollywood, but it doesn't have tiaras in real life. And that is something that the House of Windsor has been able to exploit very well.
The problem is that this leaves very little room for privacy. «There may be sympathy. There can be understanding. But there can be no secret. Columns and websites, once brought to life, long to be filled. It hurts them even more today, galvanized by undisciplined and unregulated digital media, free to pour their poison into a world where lies are cash,” says Simon Jenkins, columnist for “The Guardian.”
During the hospital stay of King Harald of Norway, up to three daily medical reports were published. It is not necessary to reveal absolutely all the details, but with Kate, Kensington Palace does not come out of the script: “It will not be incorporated until after Easter”. In the 21st century of social networks, a continuous flow of information is needed. And given the silence of the official channels, only conspiracy theories proliferate. The moral is simple: tell the truth. That is more likely to be what generates the respect the Crown seeks in the face of an increasingly complicated situation.