Kate Middleton has been painfully reminded during her battle with cancer that the members of the royal monarchy are practically immortal, and therefore, she needs to behave as such.
Many royals, including Queen Elizabeth III and the Queen Mother, lived to be almost or over 100; therefore, Princess Kate had to find a way to stand tall and strong and be the beacon the old institution needed.
It does not matter if Catherine, Princess of Wales, is on crutches or one foot—she must prove that she is a worthy royal by representing the proper and only way — being tough as nails.
Royal expert and biographer Christopher Andersen, who spoke to OK!, explained how other royals have embodied the strength and resilience in the past by saying: “The simple truth is that the royal family cannot be whittled down to a precious few without the risk of having it grind to a halt altogether. For over 70 years, the Windsors had longevity on their side—almost to a ridiculous extent. Queen Elizabeth lived to be 96, and her husband, Prince Philip, was 99, the longest-living royal male in history [when he died]. The Queen Mother was downing her favorite gin and Dubonnets right up until the end at the astounding age of 101. There seemed to be no need for redundancy, with senior royals seeming practically immortal and three generations of future monarchs waiting in the wings.”
He explained that Prince William and Kate Middleton are under immense pressure to maintain a solid public image. The pair have received the request or demand not to wobble or be feeble in the face of criticism, leaked stories, hits from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and illness.
He added: “If either of them starts to wobble, the whole thing can come crashing down. At the moment, Kate is at her most vulnerable. The ground beneath Kate is shifting in major ways. Only time can tell if she can stand strong.”
However, Middleton has been open about her journey and has made it clear she is undergoing chemotherapy — she has “good days and bad days” and will take it one day at a time.
When Princess Kate can, she will make a public appearance, fulfilling her duties as a Royal Family member. When her energy and willpower permit, she will stand up, but when she can not, as she did in the Trooping the Colour ceremony, she will grab a chair and sit down.
She is not a superwoman — she is a human being battling a significant health issue, and she will do what her body allows her to.
