Catherine, the Princess of Wales

WPA Pool / Pool

I’m a major fan girl when it comes to the Princess of Wales. My daughter lives in England and is married to a Scot, so I pay more attention to news coming out of Great Britain. I also remember the drama around the life and death of Princess Diana, and no one who lived through that time fails to feel a special connection to her sons.

When the news was first announced that William would marry Kate Middleton, I remember thinking. “Oh that’s sweet. I mean, she’ll never have the magic of Diana but she’s a lovely girl.” I was right and I was wrong. Kate Middleton didn’t have the inherent charisma of William’s mother, but she achieved it nonetheless. She earned her magic, as a woman and as a public figure. We watched her go from nice girl to extraordinary woman, not only in terms of her beauty but in terms of her activism as well. We saw her concern for people less fortunate than she, and her repeated projects and support for actual people and what they were living through. From her artistic projects during Covid to her obviously sincere work involving mental health and the needs of early childhood, more than once I found myself thinking. “Wow, she’s kind of amazing.”

I know she’s been blessed with gorgeous good looks, plus clearly a team of stylists and a glam squad beyond what any of us can imagine. But it still takes tremendous energy, intention, and goodwill to so consistently show up the way that woman does, plus raise three wonderful children at the same time! Add to it all the behind-the-scenes royal drama the rest of us can only imagine, and I have found myself among her biggest fans.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 39 years old, and at the time she had three little girls. I have some personal experience with the layers of pain and sorrow that Princess Catherine, Prince William and the rest of their family are now enduring. While surely no cost is being spared providing her with the best medical care, Catherine’s situation is just so deeply sad. I’m not quite sure why Americans feel such a connection to the British royal family, but I know many of us do. On one hand I’m glad that in America we don’t have a royal family, but I see their spiritual significance in some countries where they do. I can only imagine the tears being shed for Catherine in Great Britain today. I’ve shed a few for her myself.

May she be blessed and may she be healed. May God’s hand be upon her, giving her comfort and strength at this difficult hour. May the spirit of God be upon her and upon all those who love her. May she be miraculously restored to the fullness of life.

And so it is. Amen