Princess Kate 'abandons plans to reach out to Prince Harry' amid her cancer battle

The Princess of Wales has been recovering from her own cancer diagnosis
PA
Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 15/10/2024

- 13:50

Updated: 16/10/2024

- 08:34

The Princess of Wales will focus on her health and family, not on the family's relationship to Prince Harry, according to a former BBC royal correspondent

The Princess of Wales will focus on her health and family, not on mending Prince William's relationship to Prince Harry, according to a royal commentator.

Kate and Prince William had a close relationship with the Duke of Sussex but are no longer on speaking terms as their relationship with Harry has deteriorated over the last few years.


The Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis in March this year and has been undergoing treatment.

Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, said: "Catherine has far, far too much on her plate to bother about trying to rope in an estranged brother.

Princess of WalesThe Princess of Wales has been recovering from her own cancer diagnosis PA

“Her focus is on her husband, her children and getting strong enough for a very gradual return to work.

"I think her illness has made her marriage to William stronger than ever, and that was evident from the video.

“You can try playing peacemaker for just so long, and it looks as though she did make some attempt to bridge the gap.

"But, in the end, your loyalty and your heart belong to your husband, and I don’t think Catherine will exert any pressure on William to hold out an olive branch to Harry unless he decides that’s what he wants. And that looks wholly unlikely for the foreseeable future."

Princess Kate

Kates focus is on her husband, her children and getting strong enough for a very gradual return to work, according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond.

KensingtonRoyal

The Princess of Wales’s most recent public appearance was joining William in his visit to Southport, where the couple showed support to the community and heard how the town is recovering from the knife attack that took place at the end of July.

Kate and William met privately with the families of the three children who were killed whilst they attended a dance class.

Bond said regarding the engagement: “Under the radar, low profile, minimal fuss but high impact… that is exactly the sort of engagement we might have expected the Princess of Wales to undertake after such a prolonged absence.

“A return to public life like this could have been all about Catherine. But, in every way, she tried to make it about the people who mattered, and not about her.

Kate and William

Kate and William met privately with the families of the three children who were killed whilst they attended a dance class.

Getty

“She dressed down… quiet, smart, unassuming, unnoteworthy. This was about the parents and the community who had suffered such unimaginable loss.

"It was obviously a risk that it would make it all about her. But she did everything to stop that. There was no advance publicity, total privacy for her meetings with the parents.

"I hope such a significant visit brought them extra comfort.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales also met with the fire, ambulance, air ambulance and police services at the Southport Community Centre.

You may like