RICHARD EDEN: Kate has every right to stand up to 'online bullies' and keep details of her surgery private
The Princess of Wales has been told to ignore internet bullies demanding more details about her recent surgery.
That is the view of Richard Eden in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential newsletter.
While King Charles is to be applauded for discussing his own condition – an enlarged prostate – and raising awareness in the process, the princess deserves more privacy, he writes:
'I think Catherine should ignore the demand for more details.
Kate had a “successful” abdominal operation and was expected to stay in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery
Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic in London, where Kate is staying
King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, during the morning church service on Christmas Day
“Why should she have to disclose very personal information about her health?
“She is not our head of state, nor even married to one.”
Since Kensington Palace issued a statement last week reporting that the Princess of Wales had been admitted to hospital for 'abdominal surgery', there have been increasing calls for her to provide more details about the nature of her operation.
“We know it was serious because officials said Catherine, 42, would remain in hospital for up to two weeks and that she was 'unlikely to return to public duties after Easter, 10 weeks from now,'” Eden wrote.
'It's not just commenters online who are urging our future queen to shed more light on her condition; even The Times published a letter suggesting that if Catherine provided more details it would encourage women to come forward for treatment.
King Charles attends the church service at the Sandringham Estate
Charles kisses Kate as they arrive for the world premiere of the 'No Time to Die' premiere
'The Buckingham Palace statement on King Charles' health has, it must be said, been grist to the mill for those calling for greater openness.
'His statement, published just an hour after Kensington Palace's, revealed that the 75-year-old Monarch required treatment for an enlarged prostate.'
But Catherine is not in a similar position, Eden writes.
“If she wants to give more details later, that's her business,” he concludes.
'But as she recovers with the support of her family, she should not feel pressured to tell us more. And she certainly shouldn't give in to the online bullies.'
To read more comments from Richard click here