INTERVIEW || Robert Jobson, journalist and expert on the British monarchy, is the author of the most recent biography of the Princess of Wales. In it he addresses Catherine’s life from her childhood until the moment she found out about her cancer diagnosis. In an interview with CNN Portugal, Jobson states that he understands Catherine’s comparisons with Princess Diana, but remembers that “despite wearing the same engagement ring, they are very, very different characters”
How did you come up with the idea of writing a book about the Princess of Wales and what were the biggest challenges?
Writing a book requires many interviews. It means talking to a lot of people, both live and offline. I’ve been writing the book for a few years. And in the meantime, I wrote another book called “Our King,” because I wanted to have the book ready in time for the king to become king. She had started writing the book about Catherine about three years ago. And then, of course, I updated it as I got new information. It was a very long process. Lots of research. The most important thing in any book is to try to get a global picture of the person, and I think that’s what I do with Catherine, Princess of Wales. I think it humanizes her and the book gives us an idea of the kind of person she is in a way we never have before. It’s not really about revelations. It’s more about getting a complete sense of the person in general. Obviously, it is gratifying that so many people have read and enjoyed the book. In Britain alone, more than 30,000 copies were sold.
Was it easy to write about the princess’s childhood and youth? Do you think Catherine’s upbringing prepared her for a future with William?
Catherine’s education is crucial. She had a very happy childhood. Someone, I think, who was raised in a good family, with decent parents, who stuck together and worked hard to make sure their children got the best education possible. Parents who were great role models for Catherine and put family at the center of everything they did and made sure they were there for all of their children in whatever capacity was needed. I think that’s a very important role model for Catherine, the way she behaves like a real princess.
How do you see the relationship between the Princes of Wales? William and Catherine have been together for over 20 years and have just gone through a difficult year. Has their relationship strengthened?
Catherine and William have a very, very strong marriage. The couple really loved the fact that they knew each other very well as friends. Before they started dating, they went through a lot of things together, they grew up together. That’s why they understand each other. They understand what each other’s needs are. This is very important in any relationship. There’s no doubt that the prince and princess are very, very close. They are a very loving couple and it is very genuine. You just have to see the way they are tactile in public, laughing at each other’s jokes, to realize that they are a very, very close-knit family.
The latest biography of the Princess of Wales by Robert Jobson
Did you finish the book when it was announced that the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer? How did you react to the news?
No, I was still working on the book and was in the final edits when the shocking news of the cancer diagnosis was revealed. Obviously, I worked with the editor to make sure the tone of the book was right and that the preface and closing chapters had to be written with his diagnosis in mind.
Did people’s perceptions of Catherine Middleton change after her diagnosis?
People certainly became more aware of Catherine’s human side after her diagnosis. It humanized her in many ways. She showed her her human frailties and people sympathized with her and certainly cherished her and showed her more respect, which she fully deserves.
With Charles’ accession to the throne, William and Catherine assumed a more central role in British royalty and even the way they communicate on social media changed. How do you see that? Do you consider that Catherine played an active role in modernizing royalty and adapting the British monarchy to social and cultural changes?
They continue to have press secretaries and carry out royal engagements in the same way as the king and queen. But they like to communicate directly through videos or big, staged, polished events. We saw this when she announced she was cancer free. It was a very well-made film. They like to communicate more important issues, like William did with Earthshot and she did with early learning. Therefore, it is a little different, more PR-friendly, more controlled, more polished. They enjoy engaging with young people through their work in charity and the wider field.
In recent years, William and Catherine have been criticized for their relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rift with Harry and Meghan is covered in the book. Do you consider that Harry and Meghan’s statements had an impact on the popularity of the Princes of Wales?
Yes, there was a bit, because a lot of people believed some of the unfair things that Meghan and Harry were saying about Catherine and William and some of them turned out to be false. But yes, I still think it had an impact on whether or not William could rebuild trust with his brother. I think this is key and I’m not sure it will happen anytime soon.
Catherine is often compared to Princess Diana. How do you see this comparison and how did you approach it in the book?
I think Catherine and Diana, despite wearing the same engagement ring, are very, very different characters. They are two people who, yes, married into the royal family with the future king. She’s a very empathetic character, in some ways, like Diana, in the sense that she’s fantastic with children and she’s excellent in the way she behaves publicly. But I think the most important thing for her is the fact that she is someone who really cares about what she does. She does a lot of research on the topics she covers and is essentially there to support her husband and children, which are the two most important things to her. She and William see themselves as an unbreakable team. The same cannot be said of Charles and Diana.
Do you consider that Catherine was able to deal with pressure from the press and public and that she is prepared to be queen?
Catherine is the star of the current British royal family. She will be a queen who will be very supportive of her husband, the king. You will look incredibly glamorous in some of the most elegant outfits, with the diamonds and the state banquets, but you will be there to support the king and play an important role, not just as his wife, but also for his three children as they grow up and take on their roles as active members of the royal family.
Would you like Catherine to read the book? Has your opinion of the princess changed since you wrote the book?
I know some of her family members have read the book. I would be happy for her to read it if she so desired. It is a fair portrayal of his personality as well as a public figure.
Having followed the monarchy for more than 30 years, how do you see the change on the throne? Do you have plans to write more books about the royal family?
There have been major changes in the last 30 years, particularly in the behavior of the press and the relationship with the royal family. I think it’s more professional. With the new king there was a change in relation to the old court. He is more publicly proactive, which is understandable given the late Queen’s advanced age. I think the public is much less condescending than it was previously. There is a feeling that the royals, probably due to the saturation of media and online coverage, have become more like celebrities. But it is clear that they have a political role to play in the British democratic system of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. This is an unsettling period for the monarchy, which is in transition. I believe that Catherine and her popularity will play a key role in supporting William when he is king and in supporting the current king.
