The British crown, in trouble. A suspicious death, the indications about Kate’s illness and the ideal replacement for CarlosEl MundoBy Luisa Corradini

PARIS.– It was exactly the episode that the British royal family did not need at the moment: the apparent suicide of Thomas Kingstonhusband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, second cousin of the princes Guillermo y Harry. The dramatic event, which this week added to the cancer he suffers from King Charles III and the mysterious operation that keeps convalescing princess kate For two months now, it has even more convinced those who have begun to expect “the worst.”

Thomas Kingston died from a “traumatic head injury” and a gun was found near his body, police officials said Friday in London. They would be treating the case as a suicide. The young financier, 45 years old, had been married since 2019 to the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

A graduate of the University of Bristol, Kingston was not only a successful financier. He had also served as a negotiator in the release of hostages in Baghdad. Attractive and brilliant, he made numerous female hearts beat faster. Among them that of Pippa Middleton, sister of the future queen of England.

Thomas Kingston was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head; there is talk of suicide

The apparent suicide of that conspicuous member of the Windsor inner circle reinforced the growing concern surrounding the British crown since the year began. Fears that had been triggered the day before, when Prince William canceled his presence at the last minute in the tribute paid to his godfather, Constantine II last king of Greece, “for personal reasons.”

These unexplained “reasons” would not have been linked either to the sudden death of Thomas Kingston – King Constantine was also Gabriella Windsor’s godfather – nor to his wife’s state of health, Kate, She underwent stomach surgery on January 16 at the very exclusive London Clinic and has been convalescing since then at her residence in Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor, surrounded by her three children. Jorge (10 years old), Charlotte (8) and Luis (5), and his two Filipino nurses.

For this reason, questions accumulate. Why, while King Charles III made the decision to inform his subjects who suffered from cancer and—even without giving more details—he would immediately begin the treatment indicated by his doctors, her daughter-in-law’s illness is surrounded by a tight secret? The only clarification made by Buckingham Palace is that Kate does not have cancer and there will only be communications about your health status when developments warrant it.

“Kensington Palace has clearly indicated in January the princess reset schedule and that we would only give meaningful updates. That official line has not changed,” confirmed a statement on February 29. The Princess of Wales should return to official activities by Easter.

Indications

Faced with the silence, experts on the monarchy became interested in the medical team surrounding the princess. Thus they discovered that, shortly before the operation, Ian Patrick had joined William and Kate’s team as private secretary. According to the newspaper The TimesPatrick is a member of the board of directors of Crohn and Colitis UK, an association dedicated to a disease that bears that name.

“Princess Kate also underwent surgery at the London Clinic, an establishment that is not part of her customs. That hospital specializes in Crohn’s disease. The result of that sum led the specialized press to speculate about the possibility that the future queen is a victim of this condition, without any official statement confirming it,” analyzes British journalist Philip Turtle.

Charles III and Camilla wave as they drive from Clarence House in London on February 6, 2024HENRY NICHOLLS – AFP

Crohn’s disease It is an inflammatory condition which affects the digestive tract and causes terrible pain, great fatigue and other more or less severe symptoms. “Is about a incurable illnesswhose symptoms must be treated with medication or by surgery to remove the parts of the digestive tract that are too affected by inflammation,” explains gastroenterologist Roland Brest.

In any case, although the British press shows signs of respect and discretion, the rumors increase. “After the palace He assured that his abdominal operation was not caused by cancer, “A two-week admission, even in a private hospital, is unusual,” said Max Pemberton, doctor-chronicler for the newspaper. Daily Mail.

“Under these conditions, “It is not at all presumptuous to assume that it is something very serious,” he concluded.

For others, the silence responds to William and Kate’s desire to preserve the tranquility of their three children: “Informing the press as little as possible, the princess can give her own version to the children, without having to hide the comments about his illness published by the world’s press and social networks,” analyzes specialized journalist Stéphane Bern for whom, in any case, so much mystery seems “excessive”.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Chris Jackson – Pool Getty

“It’s true. Silence is a tradition that concerns all heads of state. You have to avoid disturbing people. But it seems to me that, by trying so hard not to worry them, it ends up worrying them even more. It’s worse!” he concludes.

Without giving any explanation either, on February 19, Prince William made his appearance again. He was in London, where he visited the Western Marble Arch synagogue with ambassadors from the Holocaust Edicational Trust, charitable organization that tries to raise public awareness about the drama experienced by the Jewish community during the Second World War.

Meanwhile, King Charles III continues his treatment against a cancer that has not yet told the public its name. Also in his case, despite the apparent transparency of the communication, everything is confusing. Is it normal that the doctors caring for the monarch only discovered the tumor the day they underwent a simple prostate surgery? Shouldn’t kings – like any normal individual – undergo periodic health checks? Unanswered questions that fueled other speculations: the British monarch’s penchant for alternative medicines.

Prince Harry remains estranged from the family Ben Stansall – POOL AFP

As soon as he ascended the throne, Charles III did not take long, in fact, to replace Professor Sir Huw Thomas, head of the Royal Household of Medicine since 2005, with the clinician Michael Dixon, who was his medical advisor for 20 years. Known for being a fervent advocate of alternative therapies, In 1998 Dixon published a study stating that “the laying on of hands can be an effective complement to the treatment of patients suffering from chronic diseases.”

“Aware that his appointment would cause real concern, The king stated that he would end his lobbies for alternative medicine upon taking the throne. Now, to anticipate concerns in this regard, palace sources assured that the monarch will rigorously respect the treatment of his oncologists,” says Turtle. Doubts, however, persist.

Replacements

Of course, there is no shortage of concerns in the institutional field. What will happen if Charles III’s illness prevents him from reigning? It’s true, Prince William seems to replace him effectively. But, with his wife convalescing, his activities have been severely curtailed.

In Great Britain, in the absence of written text, it is jurisprudence that guides the treatment of institutional crises. According to custom, The interim must be ensured by at least two state councilors of royal blood acting on behalf of the sovereign. That list, established after Charles’s accession to the throne, includes the Prince Guillermo; princess anne, sister of the king; The Dukes of Edinburgh and York, his two brothers, Eduardo and Andrés; y the duke of sussex, his other son, Harry.

The problem is that Guillermo is “almost” out of commission; Andrés is an outcast due to his involvement in a pedophile scandal and Harry, exiled in California, is persona non grata at court following his violent attacks against his father, the queen consort, Camilla, and his brother.

King Charles III with his sister, Princess AnneDAVID RAMOS – POOL

Although his father has not cut off all contact on a personal level, allowing him – for example – to visit him in Windsor as soon as it was learned that he had cancer, Harry goes from stumble to stumble in the kingdom. This week, the prince lost his appeal against the British police, who withdrew his systematic protection – paid for by taxpayers – every time he sets foot in Britain.

The High Court of London considered that the police decision “It was not irrational or unfair.” The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, they lost that protection when they decided to settle in the United States in 2020 and stop participating in the obligations of the royal family.

Eduardo, for his part, is considered by everyone to be a “featherweight.” What remains is Anne, who has the double advantage of being very close to the monarch and highly appreciated by the British. So much so that, in all the polls, when it comes to choosing the “best president” In case of proclamation of the republic, it achieves unanimity among its subjects!

Everyone believes that the princess would be capable of respecting to the letter the definition of royal powers by Walter Bagehot, author of the English Constitution in 1867. According to which, the monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, head of the Commonwealth, of the Anglican Church and commander in chief of the Armed Forces, can only afford to “formulate warnings, give encouragement and advice” to his prime minister. The 19th century historian adds to these three rights: “A sensible and wise king considers no other.”

In the midst of so many worries, from that point of view, everything seems to be going very well in the kingdom of the Windsors.

Luisa Corradini

Themes

EnglandCrownKing Charles III

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