BBC has responded to complaints that their coverage of Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis was ‘excessive and insensitive’.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, released a recorded message on March 22, in which she told the public her medical team had found cancer, and she was undergoing treatment.
The BBC has now said that it ‘received complaints from people who feel our coverage of the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis was excessive and insensitive’.
They explained the reason for the amount of coverage was to ‘reflect the significance of this story and the outpouring of support for the princess from around the globe’.
‘Our reporting made clear that this is a difficult time for the princess and the rest of the Royal Family; we have been mindful at all times to approach our coverage with sensitivity,’ the statement continued.
‘As part of our analysis, we examined the intense speculation there had been in the preceding weeks about the princess’s health.’
‘We also reported on Catherine’s request for privacy and detailed the statement from Kensington Palace regarding the princess having the right to privacy in relation to her medical issues,’ they added.
‘We always give careful consideration to the editorial decisions we make. While we have a responsibility to report on stories that are of interest to our audience, we appreciate that not everyone would have approved of the approach we took,’ the statement concluded.
In the public address, Kate, 42, spoke about dealing with the ‘huge shock’ in private.
‘In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful,’ she explained.
‘However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
‘This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time,’ she said.
After being discharged from hospital the future Queen retreated from her official duties.
Before she revealed she was being treated for cancer, Kate had been the subject of several conspiracy theories and rumours in the two months since she underwent abdominal surgery in January. She also faced a backlash for editing a photograph of her and her three children released on Mother’s Day.
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC for comment.
