GB News’ Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker has provided his exclusive insight into Princess Kate’s emotional message and the engagements undertaken by the Prince of Wales and the King this week.
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PRINCESS CATHERINE’S DEEPLY PERSONAL COMMENTS COULD CONTAIN HIDDEN MESSAGE
The Princess of Wales has had a rough eighteen months of cancer, chemo and recovery.
Sometimes, we forget her recovery is still ongoing, and could be for a long time to come.
Yes, The Princess has finished her chemotherapy, and is now in remission, but that does not mean her cancer journey is over.
After a smattering of public appearances, Catherine unexpectedly pulled out of Royal Ascot last month – just minutes before she was due to take part in the Royal Procession.
Echos of the #WhereIsKateMiddleton era then threatened to rear its ugly head.
However, during her engagement this week at Colchester Hospital, she subtly reminded us all what she had been going through.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatments done, then it’s like ’I can crack on, get back to normal’ but actually the phase afterwards is really, is really you know difficult you’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.”
The Princess was speaking to patients, volunteers and staff at the hospital’s Wellbeing Centre.
She continued: “Someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”
“But it’s life changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post treatment and things like that, it is life changing experience both for the patient but also for the families as well.”
“It sometimes goes unrecognised, you don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, appreciate how much impact it is going to have.”
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a roller coaster it’s not one smooth plain, which you expect it to be.”
“But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times and to have a place like [the Wellbeing Centre] to have the support network, through creativity and singing or gardening whatever it might be is so valuable and it’s great this community has it, it would be great if lots of communities had this kind of support.”
The Princess of Wales is one of the most famous people on the planet, obliged to carry out official duties on behalf of the nation.
However, she is also a human, wife and mother to three young children.
For the time being, perhaps we should be happy to see her when she is able to appear in public, and more understanding when she cannot.
Princess Kate sent a hidden message with her deeply personal statement at Colchester Hospital.
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PRINCE WILLIAM STANDS IN FOR KING DURING IMPORTANT MEETING
On Thursday, The Prince of Wales received President Ruto of Kenya at Windsor Castle.
I understand Prince William received the President on behalf of The King, who was taking part in the annual Holyrood Week in Scotland.
Of course, His Majesty was busy carrying out royal duties in Argyll, but the Audience served as a reminder of Prince William’s future role as sovereign.
Those around him continue to dub The Prince as a ‘global statesman’, already skilled at wielding the Royal Family’s soft power.
Although there has been no official details of what the two men discussed, I suspect The Prince was keen to talk about the dangerous work of wildlife rangers in Kenya and other African countries.
In the fourth episode of The Guardians series on BBC Earth, which was released last month, he praised the work of rangers in South Africa’s Kruger National Park for their dedication, care and courage protecting endangered rhinos.
Meanwhile, Prince William also received David Lammy MP, the Foreign Secretary.
As a senior government minister, it is custom to attend private meetings with the heir to the throne.
It would have also been an opportunity for William, who is welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron at the start of the inward State Visit on Tuesday, to ask what the Government is hoping to achieve while Mr Macron is on British soil.
Prince William, alongside other members of the Royal Family, will role out the red carpet at Windsor Castle, ahead of hard crunch talks between the Prime Minister and President Macron in Downing Street.
Prince William hosted President Ruto of Kenya at Windsor Castle.
Kensington Palace
KING CHARLES ENJOYS A ‘WEE DRAM’ OF WHISKY
On Thursday, I was reporting on The King’s visit to Campbeltown at the southern end of the Kintyre peninsula in Western Scotland.
It is a very remote part of the world, relying on the rural economy and tourism.
Farming and locally produced products is a way of life for many, and residents were keen to show their work to The King.
His Majesty braved the elements to visit a rainy farmers’ market, and gleefully watched on during a sheep shearing demonstration.
‘Don’t worry, we all have our disasters!’ His Majesty joked, putting a gardening business owner at ease when he told the King his gardens were not as good as the ones outside royal residences.
Despite one protester, hundreds of others in the crowd enthusiastically cheered as King Charles greeted them on Main Street.
Perhaps the highlight of the day was His Majesty sampling a ‘wee dram’ of whisky, from Glen Scotia distillery – which started distilling whisky in 1832.
His Majesty sampled an award-winning 25 year old whisky, and was gifted a specially engraved bottle to mark his visit.
Iain Mcalister, the Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, described King Charles’ visit as an “incredible boost” to local businesses.
King Charles sampled a ‘wee dram’ of whisky during his visit to Campbeltown in Scotland.
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