The art of power play in the Royal Family has taken many forms down the centuries. In the case of the Princess of Wales, a video happily announcing the end of her chemotherapy is a reminder that, beyond the soft-focus shot, relaxed Boho dress and images of a cheerfully chaotic family ramble, Kate is an empathetic modern matriarchal figure – with a core of purposeful steel.
She speaks for herself, rather than through aides or statements, and the message at the heart of this artful enterprise is reconnection: saying “I’m back”, on her own terms. Kate describes with feeling the trials and fear of a journey through cancer treatment and the vulnerability it brings to even those in the most fortunate circumstances.
In more traditional hands, this video would be a quick piece to camera, shot in some stately room, thanking well-wishers. But this video makes clear that her return will be on her terms and mindful of her health – expectation setting for her life after illness.
It was shot in the corporate influencer style of Will Warr, who has previously sprinkled brands from duchesses to dishwashers with........