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Royal fans are still shocked over the double health announcement by King Charles III and Kate Middleton last week. It was an unprecedented double whammy from the palace, but by revealing the news on one day in a carefully timed press releases two hours apart, the royal family signaled a new era in their communications.
Robert Hardman, author of The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, admitted to Fox News Digital that even he was shocked by the royal family’s communication style. “When I heard the second announcement, I thought, ‘Is this a repeat?’” Hardman explained. “I thought it was just extraordinary to have two major royal medical bulletins on the same day within a couple of hours.” Kate was recovering from a “planned abdominal surgery” that would take her out of the royal rotation until Easter while Charles was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. His appearances “will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”
Hardman believes there was a strategic decision made to inform the public about two senior royals with health issues, a move that probably wouldn’t have happened in the past. By getting ahead of the story, the palace can drive the narrative in the coming months — that means no speculation about the Princess of Wales’ work ethic due to cancelled engagements. “I think what was equally surprising was that level of detail,” said Hardman. “I think it says a lot about the new tone, the new style of the monarchy.”
The author thinks that the royal family is taking a page from Hollywood and how they handle personal situations that might affect their public careers. “What he’s done is very similar to what a number of celebrities, well-known public figures do when they face something personal – they talk about it to raise levels of awareness,” he noted. Charles can influence men to get their checkups and “lead by example” which is exactly what a king should do despite the “extremely personal” medical information. And it looks like it is working because “in Britain, in the last 24 hours, online searches for ‘prostate cancer,’ ‘prostate enlargement’, the keywords have gone up. I think the latest figures are a thousand percent,” Hardman claimed.
While some critics are pointing out that Charles’ “slimmed-down monarchy” leaves the royal family “somewhat exposed” with not enough senior royals in the elite ranks, Hardman is showcasing how the king is making his mark. It’s different than what Queen Elizabeth II ever chose to do, but to modernize the monarchy, King Charles must push forward.
Before you go, click here to see the 100 best photos of the royal family from the past 20 years.
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