Oh wait… it’s none of our business!
In an opinion
piece, our Editor-at-Large, Charlie Proctor, explains why the
Princess and the Palace offer us zero explanation for the
guestlist.
In the era of instant outrage and armchair analysis, a missing
face at a state reception is apparently enough to send parts of the
internet into meltdown. The Princess of Wales did not attend the
Diplomatic Reception this year – and within minutes, social media
was demanding explanations, speculating wildly, and insisting that
somehow, the public is owed a detailed breakdown of her evening
plans.
Let’s be very clear: we aren’t.
Earlier that same morning, Catherine had already carried out
a major engagement, delivering a significant speech urging
business leaders to value “time and tenderness” in early childhood
– the cause she has championed for years. She did the work. She
showed up where she was needed. She fulfilled the role that
genuinely matters.
But somehow, that becomes irrelevant if she isn’t at the banquet
in the evening.
And here’s the part people so conveniently forget whenever it
clashes with their need for royal entertainment: the Princess of
Wales is also the mother of three young children. Children who have
school routines, after-school schedules, dinner time, bed time –
and a mother who might, shockingly, want to be present for
them.
A glittering reception at Windsor Castle may be glamorous for
spectators, but it’s also a long, late, high-pressure state
occasion that requires hours of preparation and stamina. Not every
parent recovering from quite a serious illness chooses to follow up
a major morning engagement with an evening gala – nor should they
be expected to.
Yet some royal-watchers behave as though Catherine is public
property, obliged to parade on demand simply because tiaras were
polished and photographers were waiting.
She is not. She does not owe the public an appearance. And she
certainly does not owe anyone a reason.
Catherine has attended the Diplomatic Reception for over a
decade. Missing it twice – especially after recovering from a major
health scare and with three children at home – is hardly
scandalous. It is normal. Human. Sensible.
The reason she missed the event is very simple: it is none of
our business.
