Real Talk

Life Lessons from Princess Catherine Middleton’s Latest Announcement

by Kevyn Gohu
September 11, 2024

After lessening her public engagements for so long, Princess Catherine Middleton released a video that entails many life lessons, especially for cancer patients and their families.

Cancer is not easy for anyone to deal with, even more so for the wife of the future king of Great Britain and mother of three, Princess of Wales Catherine Middleton. With her many public engagements and becoming beloved by the public, it was a shock when she suddenly vanished from the spotlight. While some Deepfake videos circulated rumors, the official YouTube channel of the royal couple finally aired an announcement from the Princess of Wales.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” reveals Catherine.

Here are some lessons we’ve learned about her announcement.

Photo from The Prince and Princess of Wales

1. Things are complex; nothing is ever completely black or white

When dealing with diseases, we always try to separate and categorize which ones are “bad” and which one are “good.” But for those with medical knowledge, they’d know that cancer doesn’t come from one source. Sometimes, it’s genetics. Other times, it’s because of our lifestyle. The rest of the time — nobody knows where it actually comes from.

Catherine describes the cancer journey as such, sharing how “scary” and “unpredictable.” Cancer has stages and it behaves in a way that can be so unsettling and scary that it can cause all our schedules to come into a grinding halt.

2. Cancer afflicts the person and everyone around them

Princess Catherine Middleton is not wrong about how cancer destroys families too, even if they don’t have it. Most cancer stories are told by those afflicted but those around them are also affected. While they don’t have the disease themselves, the battle also whittles away their zest for life. The payments for the treatment, the fear of the cancer coming back, the sudden waves of emotions where those afflicted swing from one emotion to another — it’s exhausting for families who just want a sense of normalcy.

In some cases, that normalcy never comes. But when caught early, there’s a good chance.

3. We may be super to others but really, we’re just regular people

As moms and dads, we always try to be our kids’ superheroes. Everything we do, they see it as something amazing (even if our teens don’t say it outright). Sometimes, the pressure to constantly stay on that pedestal can break us and it takes a disease to make us realize that we’re not as invulnerable as we thought we were.

We often shame parents for taking care of themselves. But these are the parents who have embraced what Princess Catherine Middleton calls “vulnerabilities” and have seen it in angles that “not many people have seen before.” They’ve been humbled and even these parents would not wish what they went through to realize the chinks on their armors on others.

4. Gratitude for the greatest blessing — to love and being loved

“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved,” says Catherine in the video.

In the midst of fighting cancer, things can look a little bleak. Bad blood test results, masses that would ravage the rest of the body, the sudden loss of strength — it can feel like it’s hopeless to win. All we’ll want to do at that point is survive. Forget a photo finish; we just want the disease gone so we can go back to loving the people who matter most to us.

A Gentle Reminder: You’re not alone

Many of us who have seen, dealt, or fought alongside someone with cancer often change their perspectives in Life. The fast-paced living that society demands out of us and our families forces us to adhere to standards. But once Death looks us in the eye, we realize that it does not discriminate. It will take what it can. Eventually, we realize: strength doesn’t always mean barreling through Life. It can also mean being firm enough to take a softer approach.

Diseases like cancer can change a person, isolating them in a jail cell in their mind. After experiencing chemotherapy treatments, Princess Catherine offers kind words to others who are still waiting for their good news. “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light so let that light shine bright.”