The Royals’ health was always shrouded in secrecy and fuelled rumours… revealing details is unprecedented
BUCKINGHAM Palace’s approach to informing the nation of the health of the Royals has traditionally ranged from poor to outrageous.
Indeed, when the late Queen spent a night in hospital in 2021 the press office was lambasted for leading the media and the public a merry dance.
Even the BBC moaned with its respected royal correspondent Nick Witchell saying their behaviour had seriously undermined public trust by failing to reveal the then head of state had been taken to hospital and stayed overnight.
The palace, after all, had only come clean after being caught out by royal editor Matt Wilkinson’s brilliant scoop in the Sun.
The veteran BBC man who since retired, pointed out that “rumour and misinformation will thrive” if the Palace cannot be relied upon for trustworthy information.
It was strong stuff, but fair comment.
But this week, in a ground-breaking departure from the bad old “no comment” days and the long-standing royal tradition of privacy, King Charles authorised a new way — one of openness and transparency regarding health.
Sets a new precedent
He authorised the press office to confirm that he had sought treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
It was the second such disclosure in as many hours.
Kensington Palace had revealed earlier that The Princess of Wales was expected to be in hospital for ten to 14 days recuperating from successful abdominal surgery.
Correspondents who cover the royal beat, like myself, were also given a steer that her condition was not cancerous.
It was a smart move. In doing so, that stopped wild speculation and stopped the public worrying unduly.
It marked, in my view, a significant and refreshing shift in approach regarding health and the Royals.
It was part of a grown-up, a sensible nod to modernity and a positive PR strategy.
By sharing his condition, His Majesty not only sets a new precedent but also leads by example, encouraging men with similar symptoms to seek timely medical care.
His announcement will help save lives and he should be lauded for it.
There has been a significant increase in searches for an “enlarged prostate” on the NHS website after the King shared his diagnosis, new figures show.
The NHS website’s prostate enlargement page received more than 11 times as many visits on Wednesday compared to Tuesday.
Let’s hope his gesture of openness ushers in a refreshing change in the often inscrutable world of royal affairs.
It stands in sharp contrast to previous practices where even the slightest ailment of a Royal Family member was shrouded in secrecy, fuelling way off the mark rumours.
This often occurred whenever Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were admitted to hospital.
Historically, the health of the British Royal Family has always been a subject of tight-lipped discretion.
The change in approach is not only a matter of smart public relations but also a reflection of a deeper cultural shift within the Royal Family.
The King’s transparency means him and those of his family still working for the Firm, often viewed as remote and unapproachable, are bridging a gap between the public and the monarchy.
This strategy of openness also aligns with a more modern, democratic approach to the monarchy, acknowledging the public’s right to be informed given his importance as head of state.
We are, after all, a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
We have come a long way since the time when Prince Philip underwent surgery for a blocked coronary artery with minimal information being released.
The Palace can argue that they did release he had a stent fitted afterwards but that’s the point, it was afterwards.
Similarly, the late Queen herself, known for her robust health for most of her 96 years, would only release minimum details.
She rarely cancelled public engagements, but when she did the Palace would give some details.
They said she had keyhole surgery in 2003 but it was handled with the utmost discretion, in line with the traditional royal protocol of privacy.
Maybe the shift has less to do with public relations and says more about the age we live in, a reflection of changing times and attitudes.
The King’s decision perhaps exemplifies a broader trend towards transparency and openness, not only in royal circles but in public life in general.
It is a recognition that the public’s interest in the personal lives of their leaders, especially in matters of health, is not just a matter of curiosity but also of genuine sense of concern and a need to know for stability.
Perhaps it signals, too, the style of King Charles’s new reign — creating an increasingly more modern and relatable image.
Frailty and humanity
The King’s health disclosure, and that of Kate, serves as a stark reminder of their frailty and their humanity.
They are seen as characters in a film, through the lens of their ceremonial roles.
Their huge wealth is often commented on, less so their hard work — the King is dedicated and the hours he puts in are remarkable.
Demystifying this perceived invincibility of royalty makes them more relatable with the public.
This move, undoubtedly a PR masterstroke, does more than just polish the royal image; it redefines it.
It is good that the King is seen as less aloof.
His openness highlights his willingness to adapt and evolve the institution he leads and serves.
Looking back, health issues of previous monarchs were closely guarded secrets.
The press was told the bare minimum.
The King’s grandfather George VI, who suffered from a stammer plus other serious health issues, was a case in point.
Even before he became King, he was traumatised with fear that his stammer would prevent him doing his duty.
His struggle famously became the subject of 2010 hit film, The King’s Speech.
But, at the time, nobody knew of his treatment with Australian therapist Lionel Logue.
His surgery in 1951 for a lung obstruction was shrouded in secrecy too with scant details about the procedure he was to have and the King’s health condition not released.
When a team of doctors, led by the renowned chest surgeon Clement Price Thomas, operated under the strictest confidentiality, very little detail was released.
The death of his father George V was even more intriguing and equally as secretive.
His willingness to undergo a risky operation was kept secret.
It later emerged that his doctor Lord Dawson of Penn euthanised the King by injecting him with a fatal dose of morphine and cocaine.
There was talk that this was done so that the announcement would be in time for the respected morning papers like The Times.
What in fact happened was his wife Queen Mary and his heir Edward VIII told Lord Penn they did not want the King’s life needlessly prolonged if his condition was fatal, as it was.
George V and Queen Mary also covered up the health issues suffered by their son, Prince John — our King’s great uncle — who had several conditions including epilepsy.
Embarrassed by his behaviour, the Royals kept his condition relatively secret from the public and it was not widely known at the time.
The poor boy, who was somewhat isolated from his siblings and cared for by his loving nanny Charlotte Bill, died aged 13 of a severe epileptic seizure.
Thankfully royal disclosure has come a long way, although they are still protected by the Official Secrets Act.
That said, the King’s decision to openly discuss his health condition is a welcome deviation from the past and a clear and welcome signal of a monarch who is listening and adapting.
