EDITORIAL: Well-wishes as royal family battles cancer

Mar. 27—Americans have long had a fascination with the royalty our ancestors fought to leave behind. Long before Princess Diana captured the world's heart, her predecessors' exploits made news on this side of "the pond."

Royal-watching may now be at its highest point since Diana's death in 1997.

In roughly 18 months, we have seen the death of Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of her son, King Charles III. Frictions between Prince Harry, Charles' younger son, and the rest of the royal family flicked in and out of the news cycle.

In January, both Charles and his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, underwent medical procedures. His was reportedly routine, while hers was described as major abdominal surgery.

On Feb. 5, Charles announced his routine procedure discovered cancer. Perhaps that fueled the speculation as Princess Kate remained ensconced in her home, out of the public eye. When she wasn't back on her feet as quickly as some thought she should be, the rumor mill kicked into high gear on social media.

Fighting back, Kensington Palace — that's both the Prince and Princess of Wales' official residence and the staff thereof — released a photo of Kate, looking hale and hearty with her children. Then sharp-eyed sleuths realized the photo had been altered — and apparently not very well. We worry about deep fakes, but this barely qualified as a shallow fake.

Princess Kate issued a statement that she was the one who'd altered the photo, just like any other amateur photographer with a computer might have done. Believe that if you wish, but many of the conspiracy theorists did not.

Then on Friday came the news: The princess's surgery had also discovered cancer.

The English love their royal family, so of course they poured out their hearts for them. But prayers and well-wishes came from throughout the world.

"The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness' message," a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said, according to an Associated Press report. "They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time."

We are glad people around the world are supporting the family in whatever way they can.

Cancer doesn't care if you're penniless or rich, well-known or anonymous, a pauper or a princess. It humanizes a distant king who faces the same final battles that every person will face.

In America, despite the royal fascination, we're not fond of kingship itself. We seek to be governed by the leaders of our choosing, not monarchs chosen by lineage.

But the people, the individuals, that is different. We pull for King Charles and Princess Kate — and for Prince William, mostly helpless as his father and wife battle their diseases. We want them to succeed. We want them to be all right.

Just as we do for everyone fighting cancer.