Hard fate: princesses who survived misfortunes

Royals are considered some of the most famous and privileged people on the planet, but that doesn't mean they don't have their share of bad experiences. Recently, Princess Catherine of Wales admitted that she had been diagnosed with cancer. And her example is not unique. There are other representatives of European monarchies who have faced difficult trials in life. Basically, we are talking about deadly diseases. Some of them managed to overcome the disease, others are in the process. Here are some stories of overcoming from the royals.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has overcome anorexia

In the late nineties, the press service of the Swedish royal family reported that the heir to the throne, 20-year-old Princess Victoria, was suffering from an eating disorder. The palace was forced to make such a statement after rumors spread in the press that something wrong was happening to the girl. She lost a lot of weight and rarely left the walls of the residence. As a result, Victoria was forced to postpone her studies at Uppsala University and go to the USA for treatment. On the eve of her 40th birthday, in 2017, she told the details of what was happening to her then. “In America I received professional help, which turned out to be very important for me. Simply learning to put feelings into words and thus learning to set boundaries and not torment myself was quite easy. I kept wanting more out of life than I thought I could do or what I thought I could control.” The princess specifically thanked the media for allowing her to maintain privacy while battling the disease and noted that anorexia can affect any young person, regardless of their gender or status.

Princess Charlene of Monaco was treated for a long time away from her family

In 2021, the wife of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Charlene, spent six months in her homeland, South Africa. The cause was a severe upper respiratory tract infection (ENT), which required several surgical operations. The subjects of the small principality had already begun to worry that the princess would never return to the palace, until she reassured them with a special statement. “This year is the first time I’ve missed my wedding anniversary, which makes me sad. But Albert and I have no choice but to follow the doctors’ instructions, even if it is very difficult. He's incredibly supportive." The prince, along with the couple’s children, twins Jacques and Gabriella, visited Charlene in South Africa, after which he did not fail to assure the public: “I know that there are rumors, but let me tell you, this is not Covid or oncology. And not problems in our personal relationships. And if you want to speculate further, it has nothing to do with plastic surgery. Everything that happens has a completely different nature.” Ultimately, the couple were happily reunited in Monaco in November 2021 and immediately traveled to Switzerland, where the prince continued to support Charlene in the recovery process. The public saw the princess at the opening of the Formula E World Championship in Monaco in May 2022.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is battling chronic lung disease

In October 2018, the Royal Family of Norway confirmed that the 44-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease in which healthy organ tissue is replaced by scar tissue, resulting in difficulty breathing. In a statement, Mette-Marit said: “I have had regular health problems for several years and now we finally know what we are dealing with. Although this diagnosis limits my life at times, I am glad that the disease was detected so early. My goal is to still work and participate in official events as much as possible." However, due to illness, the Crown Princess was still forced to reduce her activity. “I get tired faster than before, so now I have to take care of myself more than I did before.”

Japanese Crown Princess Masako fell ill from constant stress

In 2004, the Japanese Imperial Household Agency reported that Princess Masako was suffering from adjustment disorder and was forced to seek help from professional doctors. For more than ten years she did not participate in the public life of the country, but after this time she gradually returned to performing public duties. Shortly before her husband, Prince Naruhito, was declared emperor in 2019, Masako spoke about her future role. “When I think about what lies ahead, I sometimes feel unsure about how useful I can be to people. But I will strive to do everything in my power to contribute to their happiness,” she said.