Following Princess Kate's emotional video announcement regarding her cancer diagnosis, the BBC has released a statement addressing the production and editing of the footage.
The Princess of Wales' announcement aired during Friday's Six O'Clock News. In her message, the mother-of-three revealed her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment after undergoing significant abdominal surgery. She chose not to specify the type of cancer she is battling.
The video, reportedly filmed on Wednesday, detailed Kate's experience: "In January, I had major abdominal surgery in London. Initially, it was believed to be non-cancerous, and the surgery was deemed successful. However, post-operative tests revealed the presence of cancer. As advised by my medical team, I am now undergoing preventative chemotherapy and am in the early stages of this treatment."
A BBC Studios insider confirmed that the video was unedited. The footage aired was exactly what was captured by the BBC team, who have also covered significant events like the King's Coronation and Queen Elizabeth's funeral. BBC Studios clarified that they had no editorial influence on the message's content, were not involved in distributing the video, and made no alterations to the recording.
This announcement comes after a previous controversy involving a 'manipulated' Mother's Day photo of Kate and her children, which was subsequently withdrawn due to suspicions of digital alteration.
Following the video broadcast, BBC Studios issued a brief statement: "BBC Studios recorded a message from the Princess of Wales at Windsor this week. We extend our best wishes to Her Royal Highness for a swift recovery."
Chris Ship, ITV News royal editor, speculated on Princess Kate's choice to share her cancer journey via video, describing it as a more "personal" approach. During ITV News, host Charlene White pondered the significance of the video format for Kate's announcement, to which Chris responded: "While the King revealed his cancer diagnosis through a Buckingham Palace statement earlier this year, Kate chose the video format to make her announcement as personal as possible. This approach not only counters conspiracy theories but also allows Kate to convey a deeply personal and moving message directly."
