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Hannah's avatar

I'm nearly sure at the time that I read somewhere that they told the children about the cancer the day the video went out as their school was breaking up and it meant news wouldn't get out that way if they mentioned to teachers/friends, and also the children were protected from questions by not being at school once the public found out.

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Jane Barr's avatar

Yes! My memory is so bad these days. You are right. I do remember that now. They told them and were then off to a break away from school and media exposure. Well, that really strengthens the sense that they were forced to tell early.

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RachelZA's avatar

It waa widely speculated, since it made the timeline make sense. But it was never confirmed.

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Hannah W's avatar

Came to say the same about the children’s school schedule and telling them about Kate’s diagnosis. I believe I also remember reading that William ended up skipping the memorial service due to either Kate’s first day of treatment or finding out about Kate’s diagnosis that day. Makes all the wild Kate conspiracy theories seem even worse looking back now. So many people spreading vileness should be ashamed.

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Katie's avatar

I enjoyed the anecdote about Princess Charlotte’s birth announcement, it’s easy to forget what a fun frenzy whips up when the royal babies arrive, amazing to think what chaos that slip of paper would have caused!

I miss the royal baby days, since then I’ve had my own babies and the time really does fly by.

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Carmela's avatar

Also, the day before King Constantine's memorial, Thomas Kingston died. Lady Gabriella's parents went to the memorial, but perhaps doing what he/his office could for Gabriella and just the shock of that along with everything else going on with Catherine and The King...William asked Lady Gabriella to represent him at King Constantine's funeral in Greece in his place the year before too.

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Carmela's avatar

Forgot. Thomas Kingston dated Pippa Middleton for a while and remained close friends with the Middletons and attended each-others wedding (Pippa’s and Tom’s).

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Anne B's avatar

Meghan is poisonous!

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Maggie S's avatar

I was surprised to see this piece with Knauf, but he was the consummate professional.

I agree with you about Harry - he will never be on the inside again although I am sure he will show up at W’s coronation and other major family events.

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JoGar's avatar

Yes. Me too. I felt that it had to be sanctioned and I’m not sure why the need for it? Seems to me William and Catherine have won the PR battle. Not sure if a need to re-hash this area unless there was new info (I mean re the Sussexs) except the “no regrets”comment . That comment to me said that if he doesn’t have any regrets, then he stands by his email. Anyway I just again wonder why now? I’m a bit perplexed. Enjoyed watching the piece though :)

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Ethel's avatar

I’m wondering if this interview was about drawing a line under the whole horrible 12 months setting the record straight on a few things and enabling them to put it behind them and move on

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Sylvie CZ's avatar

Prince William will forgive but forget? never. He has a sense of duty and he knows that Harry couldn't be trusted and would easily put the RF in danger. I don't see William allowing his brother back into the inner sanctum (so to speak) even if he were separated from Meghan. A very sad situation on a personal level and a tricky one for the monarchy.

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Maggie S's avatar

I agree - I feel he has done just that : forgiven …. But he will never allow the opportunity for H and M to come close to his family again. I think that’s just smart.

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Claudia Stokes's avatar

There have been some pretty vicious relational bust ups in my family. Drug and alcohol abusers stealing from family members, a jealous sister accusing a brother-in-law of advances and I could go on and on. While there were major silent periods between siblings and Mother, we’ve gotten past it all due to a horrific drug overdose death and a suicide. Throw some major tragedy into the mix and people can come together. However for my part there will never be the same easy trust between siblings but in spite of that we all get along pretty well now. But it’s taken decades.

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Audrey's avatar

It does take a long time to prepare an explanation for a young child about a cancer diagnosis. Also you don’t find out everything about your treatment plan right away - there could be genetic testing, subsequent scans, etc that affect it. We waited a month to tell our daughter, who was 7, about my diagnosis.

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Natalia R's avatar

Knauf made the right decision by taking the high road on Meghan and Harry. With the the Sussexes' never ending drama and Kate's and Charles's health issues it's easy to forget how betrayed William must have felt having Harry sell him out sharing personal family moments, the multiple TV interviews and his book. What Harry did to William was just so cruel. How do you even move pass that? Overall I enjoyed it. I do agree with some commentors that this was a way to sort of soft launch William on his future role as King and how he intends to do things.

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Anne HH's avatar

Thank you for covering this, Jane. I had seen the headlines about Knauf's appearance on 60 Minutes Australia but decided not to click on the link because I assumed it had not been sanctioned and I was afraid it was another blow to W & K that one of their inner circle was blabbing about their private business. If he is still on the Earthshot board, I agree with you and others that it seems like he got the nod to talk from William. But, also like others, I am not sure why he did. I have always been so impressed by the loyalty that is shown to (and undoubtedly earned by) Kate and William. I am not sure I like the idea of this sort of insider spilling of private details, no matter the circumstance.

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Natalia R's avatar

I imagine Knauf has an iron clad NDA so there's no way he would have spoken out without Williams full blessing. The tone of the interview was how William wants to do things when he's king and how he intends to modernized the monarchy. I think William very much wanted that message out there.

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Anne HH's avatar

Of course, you are right about the NDA. I don't know why I didn't think of that. But, even if they control their employees talking about their private lives through NDAs, don't you agree that they inspire tremendous loyalty from their friends and extended family (notwithstanding H & M)?

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Reelmomof4's avatar

The two things that stood out to me the most: With William and Kate, what you see is what you get. Secondly, if Kate did not like the beard it would be gone. Haha!

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Joanna's avatar

I'd be very, very surprised if William and Catherine could ever trust Harry again. For their own sakes, that of their family and children, and for the sake of the future of the monarchy (which means one of their children and a future grandchild). I would go so far as to argue that their duty, and maintaining their sanity, demand no path back for Harry. But of course, for Knauf to say on the Aus version of 60 Minutes, seen as sanctioned by William, that there is absolutely positively no path back for Harry would be NEWS, which W&C and the BRF in general don't need right now, so far better to take the diplomatic and discreet route.

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Debra's avatar

I haven't had time to watch this but will do so later today. It does seem that as W & K get ever closer to the throne that they've started to publicly lay the groundwork for how they plan to do things and this may be part of that plan.

The whole frenzy around Kate's illness before she announced her diagnosis was unlike anything I've ever seen. Looking back on it, it seems especially crazy. What a horrible thing to have to navigate all while dealing with the illness and her children. I do believe that much of it was triggered by Sussex sycophants but it very quickly went mainstream. Truly a shameful episode for everyone involved in the media speculation.

I agree with Jane that I don't think Harry will ever be allowed back into an inner royal circle. And he shouldn't be. What he has done, and has been complicit in allowing Meghan to do, is so destructive and so hurtful, not just on a personal level but on an institutional one, that he can never be allowed anywhere near the royals.

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