“There’s no question that the person who most wanted medical things to be kept private was the Queen,” says Andrew. “As soon as the Queen died, you didn’t need to be clairvoyant to know that on the death certificate it would just say ‘old age’, as it had with Prince Philip. Even in death they weren’t going to give much away.”

By contrast, Kate’s decision to speak openly about her cancer diagnosis earlier this year and bring an end to months of speculation, was a break from the Queen’s preferred order of business – but it was also crucially the right choice, believes Andrew.

“The fact that Kate made a very touching piece to camera at Kensington Palace was a very different approach and a genuine step change in the way the royal family deals with illness,” he says. “And given the public fascination with what was wrong with Kate and the hysteria surrounding it, I think it was a very shrewd move, as it burst that balloon of conjecture.”

The decision was also supported by royal expert Duncan Larcombe, who told the publication that he felt The Queen would have been “proud” of Kate for taking such a bold move, even if she herself would’ve been reluctant to do so.

“I think she would have been tremendously proud of how she’s dealt with it, especially with such a brave video,” the expert quips. “We all worry about our kids and how they’re growing up, but when one of your jobs as a mother is to bring up a future king, the stakes couldn’t be higher.”