The Royals with Roya and Kate - Kate's recovery

Episode Date: September 11, 2024

“Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright” - Roya and Kate take stock of the Princess of Wales' update on her treatment, and discuss new details about the King and Queen's upcoming tour of Australia and Samoa. Video credit: Will Warr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, the Princess of Wales sent a message to the public which said a huge amount in just a few minutes, including, out of the darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright. As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant. And we've had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters

and road unknown. Welcome to the Royals with Roya and me, Kate. And there really is no other place to begin. We've had a couple of days to digest the announcement made on Monday But let's start on Monday What was your initial reaction Roya to watching the video released by the Princess of Wales? Well when I first saw the video I thought wowzers. That's a departure I thought the message was very impactful and I thought the words

were very interesting and revealed a lot about her journey and how she's felt. What did you think of the means by which they communicated that message, this three minute video? Yeah. I've watched that quite a few times now and I still haven't totally made my mind up about it. Oh really? Yeah, I mean, you know, from a from a voyeuristic point of view, it's it's very enticing in terms of getting that kind of access to the Wales family. And I like elements of it and

I like how, you know, at nature it is and I like the sort of, you know, family scenes. I can see how it has divided opinion in that, you know, some people will say it's a beautiful image of a mother who's been on a very, very difficult journey with her family and other people who will say it's too picture perfect for, you know, there are other cancer sufferers out there whose reality doesn't look like that. Which I think misses the point because what she's saying is this isn't the reality. This is, you know, you get to see me with my family. She's saying it's been very hard.

This is a snapshot of the things that she can maybe get back to when she feels well enough. I suppose my only question would be for that level level of access, and it's a really interesting film to watch on so many levels, you can dissect it, will the public now always expect that level of openness and access each time there's an update to give? That would be my sort of question mark. Will the public and the media come to expect that level of revelation and intimacy inside the Wales family? In a way it was kind of, it was very transparent in that, you know, here we are, there was very intimate scenes of her and the Prince of Wales lying on the picnic blanket and sort of cuddling

and in a way that we don't really ever, ever before. So in that way, it was kind of sharing something very, very intimate and personal. On another level, it was the message itself and the words of the message while they were beautiful and uplifting. They just gave us that one, well, sort of two nuggets of information that her chemotherapy had come to an end, which was a huge relief, that the last nine months had been incredibly tough for the family, which is what we've been led to believe, obviously, anyway. And then I suppose with the additional context that she'll be coming back when she can, but she's got a tough road ahead. But in terms of it, she was still not sharing the kind of details of what type of

cancer it is in the same way that the King hasn't. So not sharing the kind of details of what type of cancer it is in the same way that The King hasn't. So it was that kind of combination between maintaining that relationship with the public through having that, it's long, it was a kind of Hollywood movie trailer kind of length wasn't it? And just as glossy as anything you'd see from Hollywood I think. I thought she was also quite cleverly managing expectations in terms of her return. I wrote a piece last week that said, look, she's thinking about coming back. And that was very timely, your piece, because you said that she was, you know, that things

are improving, but you were cautious in what you wrote as well, to say that it was gradual. And that's what we've, yeah, that was a brilliantly timed piece. Well, I thought, thank you, I thought this line was quite interesting in terms of her managing our expectations in the publics when she said, although I finished my chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. So, you know, and then we had those comments from William afterwards saying, you know, when he did an engagement somewhere else the following day yeah there's a long way to go yet and I thought the combination of that video with her saying that and

William saying you know and the briefing that we had with the palace in terms of using the phrase cancer-free or not cancer-free well I was going to pick up on that Roya because if you agree I think it's quite I think people might be quite interested to find the background of how this video was released because there's a very prominent BBC podcast, I'm not gonna name it, because why would we promote somebody else's? But they were sort of saying oh the Royal reporters were cut out of this and the video was just released. Well that wasn't quite what happened. We had the briefing, we were called to a briefing

and to explain that she was going to release this video and the message and quite what happened. We had the briefing, we were called to a briefing and explained that she was going to release this video and the message and there was a lot of context around the back of it. Again, reinforcing that point, you know, that it's going to be a long journey and that she wants to thank the public, but that she's not going to be returning. We're not going to see her full-time return in the coming months. And also, I thought what was also interesting about the briefing was sometimes, often we would have the statement from the principals, we call them the member of the royal family describing what the new lines are, what they want to communicate directly with the public. Then you'll have the Kensington Palace spokesman

saying some background on the record. This time there wasn't that, and I think deliberately so because they wanted to let the princess speak for herself. You know she's delivering that message in the same way that she did from the bench earlier this year when she explained that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer had been found following that January operation. That was her message and again this felt very much her message. Yes she was with her family but it was interspersed with her kind of feeling the sun on her face in the woods, she's driving the car, she's in the driving seat and I think it was really interesting that kind of dynamic that there was no Kensington Palace

official spokesman yet the machine was there to support her in the context that we were being given behind the scenes. There was a lot of discussion over, you know, and follow up questions as there would naturally be because she's finished her chemotherapy, does that mean she's cancer free? And, you know, the strong guidance is no, you know, this doesn't mean she suddenly cured. It means she's finished her chemotherapy. And as she says, there's, you know, the path to recovery continues. And I think that is, again, that and the wider context of that video and that film is to manage people's expectations about how she might want to approach the next few months, the next phase of her life in terms of her

recovery. You're right. I agree with you. It's her in the driving seat, literally, literally in that video and over the last nine months, because she has, although, you know, there's that frenzied speculation in the spring before she announced she had cancer towards the end of March and when we heard from her in that video, that first video on the bench and then we had the follow-up on the eve of Trooping the Colour with that message and that picture of her by the Weeping Willow Tree, the messages from her, we've now had three very personal, open, candid, honest, frank messages from the Princess of Wales. And I think there's something to be said about that

in terms of all the speculation and the mood music before March. There was a lot from the media and social media that why were they being so opaque? Why aren't they more transparent about what's going on? And all around the world, there was awful speculation and people kind of seeming to revel in awful speculation of what might be happening to her which felt, I wonder if it's lessons learnt that they say, okay, well, you know, we can see her in this video, it is reassuring, okay, they're saying, you know, it's a long way to go yet and she wants to stay cancer free but they're very much not saying

she is cancer free. But do you think her being as honest as she's been now in three different messages, is that her sort of saying I'm trying to give you context as to why perhaps I am choosing what I'm choosing to do? But does it also quash some of the, well, you're not being upfront with us here. Because actually even after this, there are still people saying, well, she hasn't said what type of cancer she's got. So it kind of only goes so far. But you know, how much information, I'm always fascinated, how much information do the public feel they're entitled to from members of the royal family?

But I think that she's sort of filling that vacuum so that it doesn't, so that that doesn't happen again and that she is going some way towards providing that expectation from the public that she should be there. And they showed the children, you know, they've always been very careful, you know, regarding the privacy of the children. So they're giving, they're saying, look, we're giving, we know that, you know, we're giving you something here. We want to maintain the relationship with the public, but also explaining her thinking as to why she won't be seen as much as we might expect her to. But there's also this incredibly reassuring message. She looked really well in that video. She looked strong. She was seeing, pushing

Louis on the swing really vigorously, you know, around, she looked great. Obviously she's been very very unwell for a long time but I think though you know that image of her... She looked very different to how she did in March didn't she? Yeah yeah and I think people will take comfort from that when we saw her at Trooping the Cutter we saw it when more than where she looked well. But I thought she looked better I mean obviously this has been edited and you can choose your own images but she did look well. And then happy and relaxed as well. But also what was the response that William had in Wales when he went the next day. So he went up to Wales on Tuesday didn't he and all the crowds kind of

you know they're pressing cards into his hands for Kate. The public were really a lot of the public who are interested in the royal family who turn out to see William. They obviously, you know, they like the royal family. They're not going to stand there if they don't. They were pleased to hear she was better and they kept saying to William, we're so pleased and you know, gosh, what a relief. And the reaction to actually has been almost as interesting as the video itself. So she started also this debate within the media about what happens when you finish chemotherapy. So there was a brilliant piece in the Times

by Rosamund Dean, who's a Times writer who has been through cancer herself, also a young mum, similar age to Kate, and has been through that. And she wrote about the kind of, that anxiety and physical effects of chemotherapy don't stop when the treatment ends. And I think that hits an L on the head.

We're starting to look at the wider context and she's becoming, as we say in a leader article on Times Today, about how she's becoming sort of a spokesperson for the wider issue around cancer in the same way that the King obviously has been as well. But I think in talking about the difficulties and the reality of when your treatment ends and the other effects, I think. But the language of it also was extraordinary, wasn't it? I think it was very reflective. But I think there were so many hints in there that say, you know, she's come face to face with the sort of vulnerabilities of life, you know, that journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. And I think she's saying, look,

I've, I've been away. I'm, I've reflected on not just my own illness, but life, what I want from it. And you know that I want, and I think she's going to want to, even when she's well come out of, you know, spending more time with her family. What do you make of the detractors who didn't like the film? I mean, it has divided opinion, I think it's fair to say that I've read a lot of coverage in the mainstream media and on social media people saying it's just too Hollywood, it's

too glossy, it's too picture perfect. Well, yeah, it's the Instagram, but I think it speaks to the Instagram generation. It speaks to the zeitgeist of the time. Okay, they're playing cards nicely. You don't see one of the kids storm out in a strop, which almost inevitably happens when you play card games. It almost inevitably happened, didn't it? It just made the cutting room floor.

Well, that's it. And I think, do you know what? I think she wanted to present an optimistic and upbeat tone and you're not gonna get that with a kind of warts and all bringing in, you know, what's the alternative? Bring in a documentary maker to chart her journey a woe is me. You know I think I think it's the right tone I think it is upbeat. What did you what do you make of it? Did you find it a bit

schmaltzy? Which was one of the criticisms wasn't it? Like I said I really liked the message behind it and I can't say that I didn't like the images because they're fascinating images to see and you feel you're getting a real glimpse of something you haven't seen before. We had a tiny bit of it with that video they released to mark their 10th anniversary of their wedding where they released a video that some people described as a Ralph Lauren ad. It was perfect but this went much further. And three minutes is a long time for social media you know and TikTok. It did look right it does look their life up there looks rather lovely doesn't it? It does look pretty good. They get to waft around

the beach to themselves and the woods to themselves and it just looked very jolly and quite wholesome. Very wholesome. Very wholesome. And what did you make of, we don't normally, we don't often see William and Kate, there isn't, we don't often see them sort of, oh we don't see them hugging on engagements. We don't see them lovey-dovey. We saw them very loved up in that film. We did. Oh that was nice to see. Yeah. I wonder if that's the kind of shot at the detractors as well. And Carol and Michael Middleton. Yes. A cameo from them. Yes. They're playing cards around the table using the kind of Nespresso pads as little things you get from the coffee machine. That's

Kate isn't it wanting to like say to the public my parents have been an integral part of the last nine months supporting us. Absolutely. Absolutely, yeah. It was an interesting insight. I'm sure the debate will continue. Sure it will. So let's go and have a cup of tea and see you in a minute. Now yesterday, Kate, we trotted off to Buckingham Palace. The script says we trotted off. I'm gonna say we galloped to Buckingham Palace.

We were so excited. We were. For a briefing on what the King and Queen's Autumn Tour of Australia and Samoa will look like. Samoa. Samoa. Yes. Okay, I stand corrected.

That was one of the briefing notes, wasn't it? We went for a briefing on what the King and Queen's Autumn Tour of Australia and Samoa will look like. Yeah. And there were some very interesting details that emerged. One being the announcement that the king will be looking at the pioneering cancer treatment

when he meets some really interesting people who've done a lot of amazing work on that cake. Tell us more. That's right, so they have this brilliant award called Australians of the Year, in which they award Australians for being rather brilliant. For being epic. For being epic, for being amazing.

One of the people he's gonna meet meet will be Professor Richard Scolia. And you'll also meet Georgina Long, Professor Georgina Long. And they are both Australians of the year. And the King will then hear about the work that they've been doing for those affected by melanoma. And it's quite interesting because Richard himself, although he's a medical doctor, he's been suffering with brain cancer. Incurable from brain cancer. He's got a brain tumor, hasn't he? Yeah, incurable from brain cancer, but through his own work, he's managed to take this kind of pioneering treatment.

And hasn't he been trying treatment on himself? Didn't one of the private successors he said yesterday in the briefing? That's right. That's right. So he's incredible. I mean, we shouldn't take from this that the King has brain cancer or that he has skin cancer or anything like that. Because we know the King himself is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer himself. So this will be a really kind of poignant part, I think, of the journey that he's making to Australia. And there's loads, loads of stuff going on, considering that he's not been very well. He's 75 years old. He's going all that way. It's the first royal tour of the reign from the king and queen to a Commonwealth realm. And they are busy. They're going to be busy.

So far we have had France state visit, Germany state visit, Kenya as well. But this is something about a Commonwealth realm that's very different, isn't it? In terms of the objectives and what they're trying to achieve and that relationship and the ties that bind. Indeed. Is the phrase. So what else are we going to be up to? And also, we should say to listeners, because we know that we've got... We should say g'day to our Australian listeners. Because we know we've got a good following in Australia, for which we are very grateful. Hello, if you're listening in Australia.

We're so thrilled to come see you. We are coming your way We are Kate and I will be on this trip and so will the podcast. Yes, so we will be podcasting from all over The great realm of Australia. Well, maybe not We we may go off piste gate Let's never come back. No, there's all sorts of fun things. The thing I'm looking forward to... What you're looking forward to? That King and Queen will attend a community barbecue in western Sydney. I know what you complained about yesterday. They're going to have a barbie. I know, but what you really wanted to see, what you really, really wanted to see were some koalas you said at the briefing. There are no

koalas as things stand. I mean to lobby the palace for that. We'll lobby. Let's lobby for some. Let's do that. But also interestingly, they're going to have what we call in Britain a royal walkabout. But there was a lot of discussion about this yesterday, wasn't there Kate? There was from the palace aides. They are not going to call it a royal walkabout. They have to keep reminding themselves they mustn't call it a royal walkabout.

Why is that Kate? Well the royal walkabout said... Royal keep reminding themselves they mustn't call it a royal walkabout. Why is that Kate? Well the royal walkabout was set up, something devised by the late queen, the idea that you go and meet the public, who the crowds that come out, shaking hands basically, shaking hands hello, an informal meet and greet has been known for years as a walkabout. Now the king queen has said that's not really okay because it has ties with the Aboriginal community and that's their term for a rite of passage, essentially, going through the bush to the outback. It's kind of a meditative process. So the palace have been told we're not calling it that anymore. It's going to be called, the catchy catchy name an opportunity to meet the public now that might need a rebrand if anyone's got a better way a better

name for an opportunity to meet the public I would just call it a handshake about handshake about yeah let's do that we'll just if we just start writing it okay in the Times and Sunday Times then it'll just become a thing that's trademark by the way guys anyone else wants to use that? We're really looking, and then what are you looking forward to? I'm looking forward to Samoa, oh my gosh. I'm looking forward to going to Samoa very much because it's probably not a country that I've got to off my own bat and that is the one of the great things about this job

is that we do see some amazing places. We meet some interesting people. We go to some far-flung corners of the globe. Holidays. They are not holidays, Kate. They are not holidays. I thought you said that in the intro to this podcast. I said, I said, people. I was joking. Just to clarify for my editor they are not holidays. Well this is the thing people in the office think you're having a right jaunt don't they and then you should

see this itinerary in the way that it's all very well for the king and queen who get whisked around and then you know we're on. They don't have to fill out their visa forms do they? For millions, squillion times. No the admin for this trip is extensive let's say. But it will be so worth it as we all be brilliant around down under and be podcast to you from the other side of the world. Yeah. And also this idea, you know, the idea of the Commonwealth, where does it stand in the world? What's the relationship between the Commonwealth and the royal family?

You know, William has said in the past, he doesn't expect to be the head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king. Now, obviously, Charles is very fond of the Commonwealth and has sought to protect it, you know, carry on the legacy that was started by his mother and his grandfather. And attending Chogham, the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, as King, for the first time, will be a big deal. And there'll be more about the tour coming up and more when we actually get there of course as well. But moving on to something else, last week you and I talked about the new trailer for the upcoming Amazon Prime drama about Prince Andrew's Emily Maitlis newsnight disastrous interview.

Something just dropped off the table but it was kind of perfect timing because that clanger, the clanger was what Andrew dropped when he did that Newsnight interview about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Now since then you and I have both had a chance to watch the program. Yes. I actually think this is much better than Scoop which came out on Netflix earlier this year. I agree, it's more compelling. It's a three-parter. I thought how are they going to get three parts out of this but it was, it's brilliant. I mean what did you make of it, Roya? Well, it was an interesting Monday, supposed to be my day off. I scrambled Kensington Palace

briefing about the Princess of Wales' health and then raced over to the screening. Well, I was going to go to the screening just for the canapes because I'd already seen it on my computer on a screening link that the producers had sent me. But I was going to go to the screen just to see my mates and have the canapés. I missed it because I was writing about the Prince of Wales but I've seen it. Great about the screening as well was that Mike Weschene who plays Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson who plays Emily Maitin were there for the Q&A. So I agree with you. I thought it was better, it's more more interesting it just takes you in much

more than than scoop did which was a lot about the story of Sam and Callister and had time at the BBC and this was much more about I think that in the in the reads of how they got it. Yeah it was also more about the duke behind the scenes at the palace wasn't it? Yeah which is very... We're not allowed to swear on this podcast and we've always said we don't want to swear on this podcast. He's quite rude. We've always said we don't want to swear on the podcast. But it's very hard to talk about what Andrew says in this program without swearing because they are effing and jeffing as we would say here. Yes. Throughout, I mean, these very first words are eff off to a poor footman who sounds to

be in his way. And wants to ask a question. Unbelievably rude. He's belligerent, he's arrogant. We must remember this is a drama. Someone in my ear is reminding me that this is, these are not Prince Andrew's, these are Prince Andrew's imagined words. They are imagined fictionalised words and yeah there's imagined dialogue. And yet so believable. And yet so believable. Yeah funny you should say that.

Because people will think, oh, this is really what he's like. I mean, obviously a lot of research has gone into this programme. There's also an imagined scene between him and Jeffrey Epstein where Andrew goes to New York. It's the re-imagined days around that photo

that we all, so many of us know of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein walking in Central Park. This is of course after Epstein has come out of prison and is a convicted paedophile and Andrew goes to stay with him in New York as he says to Anna Meynon later he did that to break up their friendship because he was too honorable to do on the phone. So honorable. But it is interesting the way that the drama imagines the interactions between Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew leading up to that picture. People have asked me this week

what impact do you think it will have? And my feeling is I think it'll be widely watched. I think people will be intrigued to watch it. It's a good drama. I've only seen the first episode. I haven't seen all three. Oh, I have. Yeah, it's good. It's a good drama. But I don't think, and correct me if you think I'm wrong, I don't think it's going to move the dial on the public perception of Andrew. I think the public perception of Andrew is quite firmly established already. Pretty low. And I think it was established with the Newsnight interview. I think you're right. I think you're right. I think as soon as the Newsnight went out, everybody could see for themselves that he was making apologies for himself. He didn't seem genuine. He didn't come across as likeable, believable, unfortunately for him. But I do what I think it will change

a dial on is the pressure on the palace. So again, it's an embarrassment to the king that his younger brother, or not his youngest brother, but one of his younger brothers, has brought the family into disrepute. There's a brilliant line in it from Edward Young when he talks about the problem of Andrew within the drama and again it's a fictionalized dialogue.

But Ed Young says, well we need to protect, the duke's reputation's gone, but what we need to protect now is the crown. The crown. And I think the same is true today. It's a different person wearing the crown. We now have King Charles, but he is keen to get Andrew out of Royal Lodge.

And we've talked about this in the past. The King is currently funding Andrew's lifestyle to the tune of at least five million a year. So three million of that we estimate to be on security. To keep him in Royal Lodge, which is without the bounds of the Windsor Security Corden, Charles has proposed moving him from there to Frogmore Cottage.

Andrew doesn't want to budge. Charles is saying,'m going to cut the funds off if you don't. And now it's this kind of drastic kind of standoff. And it's sort of the program's really interesting because millions of people are going to be watching this Amazon Prime show around the world called A Very Royal Scandal. I mean, what a title. The palace, I'm going to like that. But that's the crux of it. And Charles won't want this to kind of tarnish his reign. So he's offering a very generous alternative saying he's going to carry on supporting him and Sarah Ferguson if if that's what they want but not a royal lodge. So it'd be interesting to see how this plays out because already the the

wheels are in motion with this so there's a contract for Andrew's security that's running out towards before the end of the year. And that's not going to be renewed at this stage. So it'll be interesting to see if that's the kind of push point for Andrew. But it's just yet another embarrassment. Will he get, will he get, will the king get him out? Let's, let's wait and see. Let's wait and see. Let's wait and see. So before we go, shall we talk about a new royal sculpture of the late queen and prince Philip? It has received mixed reviews, let's say. I'd say. Mixed reviews is putting it politely, I would say. I'd say that's a very polite description of the reviews. And Roya, I want to know your opinion as a former arts correspondent. What you thought of this bronze

sculpture? It's created by North Belfast artist Anto Brennan and unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens on Saturday. I've got to be honest, when I... What was your reaction when you first saw it? I was there to witness your reaction, which was quite... Shock and reaction, which was quite. Shock and surprise, shock and awe. Shock and awe. I'd be honest and say,

when I looked at the picture just before we started recording, I wouldn't have been able to tell you straight away if I hadn't known what I was looking at, who I was looking at. There isn't. The corgis. There isn't. And scroll down to the corgis. There isn't- If you scroll down to the corgis.

There isn't an uncanny resemblance between the sculpture of Her Late Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh and what you actually see. I would say- She's wearing the kind of- Okay, there's a headscarf. Headscarf. There's a sort of knee-length pleated skirt

and there's a corgi at her feet. I would say that's perhaps as far as a similar. She's go. I think- Philip's sort of standing-length pleated skirt and there's a corgi at her feet. I would say that's perhaps far as a similar as she's go. I think it's sort of standing behind her. I mean the late Queen was an absolute master at portraits being unveiled and her going and not really being able to sort of know what she thought. I wonder, I think if she had been around, still around now and seen that, again she'd have been utterly diplomatic and not pass judgment on it publicly. I think she might have had a word or two to say behind the scenes. Royal sculptures are a bit hit and miss though, aren't they? And so we can only hope that,

we also had the recent news that there's going to be a permanent memorial, an official memorial from Britain to the late Queen in St. James's Park. Yes. And currently the bid has gone out, designers are going to be submitting their plan so we can only hope that perhaps that one might be a little more, you know, if it's familiar. If it is a sculpture of her likeness that it might be, yes, more familiar. That you can look at it and go, oh yeah, that was Queen Elizabeth II, rather than who's that lady in the headscarf walking her little dog. In conclusion, perhaps artist Ante Brennan has used a large lashing and generous helpings of artistic license here. Yes, indeed. Now you're a Kate, aren't you? You're not a Catherine. I am a Kate, I am. You're just straight Kate.

I'm just a Kate, yeah, plain old Kate. Because, plain old Kate, nothing plain about you. Oh, thank you, darling. Last week, when I did write that piece about the Princess of Wales' gradual return to public life and she was thinking about her autumn program and feeling much better. When we published the piece I got an awful lot of response from people on social media about her name and when I tend to write

about the Princess of Wales I give her her full title to start with and then in copy tend to call her Kate as I have done over the 12 years I've been reporting and that is indeed her name. I know she's technically Catherine with a C and signs all her official messages Catherine as you would when you sort of sign your you know official documentation with your full name but I just want to clear this up because a lot of people, you know, say you're being so disrespectful, you can't use that proper name. So I looked back to... First of all, nothing wrong with being called Kate, can I just say? It's a great name. Thanks.

Strong. When I did a profile of the Princess of Wales when she was turning 40, so she was then still going by the Duchess of Cambridge title. Right. I asked a really good friend of hers what was the truth behind which name she really uses because a lot of people had said oh wow we know when she got married she went from being Kate and wanted to rebrand herself into Catherine. Yeah. What's she called? She's using her Sunday best name, that's fine. So this, this is what a very, very good friend of Kate's said, who's known her for a long time. I call her Catherine.

Her family and her old Moulber crew, that's where she went to school, call her Catherine. At university, she became more of a Kate. Among friends of William's, she's Kate. William calls her by both names. Well that should put the detractors and also when people say that to me they say why do you call her Kate and I get this I get emails in you know messages. Because that is her name. I point people to the engagement interview in which. You call her Kate. With Tom Bradby. In which, throughout the entire interview, William refers to her as Kate.

Harry also always called her Kate. Indeed. So, what a great name, Kate. Great name. There you go. On that note, Kate, The Times has published a very interesting leader today, all about Kate and the film and the response and her messaging. Over to you. It says the most recent data suggests that there are more than three million people living

with cancer in the UK. This figure will rise to 3.5 million as early as next year. Catherine, Princess of Wales, the future Queen, is increasingly a spokeswoman for this sadly considerable and largely silent community. Her sense of duty is nobly reminiscent of her husband's late grandmother. The Princess has spent most of 2024 undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer. That treatment she revealed in a touching personal video released on Monday ended last month. That's tremendous news, although as she says, her path to healing and full recovery is long.

Indeed so, while her desire to return speedily to public duties is admirable, the princess should take as long as she needs to restore her health. Let us all continue to be patient indeed and wish her well. And on that note, I look forward to seeing you next week. Always look forward to seeing you Kate.