The news of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, revealing her cancer diagnosis and treatment has sparked a conversation about the treatment and media coverage of royal family members, as well as the level of privacy they can expect as some of the most well-known individuals in the world.

According to CBS News royal contributor and royal biographer Tina Brown, watching Kate, commonly known as the princess, share her news in a video announcement released on Friday was "absolutely heart-breaking."

"I mean, here was this brave, composed, you know, marvelously dignified young woman, talking about something that was deeply shocking and traumatic for her and her family," Brown expressed.

• What do we know about Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis?

Despite unfair and unwarranted speculation about Kate's condition in recent weeks, Brown and other royal insiders believe that there are potential lessons for the royal family and their public relations teams to learn as the age-old institution continues to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Is Princess Kate owed an apology?

Not long after Kate and her husband Prince William's official Kensington Palace residence announced the Princess of Wales' surgery and said she would be recovering privately, with no updates expected, the social media rumor mill went into overdrive.

Despite the declaration that there would be no updates, the royal couple posted a U.K. Mother's Day photo on their official social media pages on March 10 that appeared, at a first glance, to show Kate looking happy and healthy with her children. But Kate was quickly forced to issue an apology of her own, admitting she'd edited the image.

The photo released to quell rumors ended up fueling them, with social media networks abuzz with people suggesting everything from marital problems to a range of unfounded health issues.

"I think that the apologies that are owed are some of these really salacious, horrible things that went on," Brown said. "There were a lot of mean things. There were lots and lots of jokes."

Kate, Brown said, had been "ridiculously overwhelmed with all of the trolling and the mad theories and the crazy things that have been said, and she was simply backstage, or struggling with something that was really shocking and upsetting for her and her family."

"I think we have to really cut them some slack about it at this point. They are people at the end of the day," Brown said.

Reimagining the Turmoil at Kensington Palace

Amidst a tumultuous year for even the most seasoned public relations teams in the royal realm, questions arise about the handling of recent events at Kensington Palace. Speculations suggest that Kate's health woes coinciding with King Charles III's cancer treatment may have plunged the palace into further disarray.

Insiders hint at the underlying turmoil faced by William and Kate as they grapple with the sudden prospect of ascending the throne sooner than anticipated. With a shocking diagnosis and three young children in tow, the couple navigates a delicate balance of personal and public responsibilities.

Experts weigh in, proposing alternative strategies for managing public curiosity surrounding Kate's recovery. Some suggest a more transparent approach, showcasing the princess's progress to quell speculation. However, the decision to maintain silence may hint at a deliberate choice by William himself.

"I would like to have seen that happen a lot earlier, actually, and yes, they did make a complete mess of it, but I'm actually really told that some of it was because William really feels he is going to say, 'My family do not have to say anything about their private lives.' So, it's almost as if he's telling… the communications apparatus, 'I don't want to do this.'

Brown said "there was argument inside" the palace that it should have provided more in the way of updates. She suggested Kate could merely have appeared earlier on, giving "a wave from the window" or some other signal of her recovery, but that wasn't done.

In the absence of information, Brown said, "it created a vacuum in which all these terrible rumors poured."

"The royal family is an incredible, incredibly powerful, tax-funded institution," Brown said. "Billions of taxpayer dollars support it. Rather than trying to shame people for wondering where she was and all these botched social media moments, why didn't they use it as a teachable moment about cancer — about empathy — from the jump?"

"But they didn't do it, and, as I say, we can't really judge, because what they're dealing with is so incredible."

Debating the Boundaries of Royal Privacy

Should the royal family be entitled to a certain level of privacy, or is their public role an invitation for constant scrutiny? This ongoing debate has been reignited by recent events, prompting discussions about the delicate balance between public interest and personal boundaries.

A former communications director for Prince Charles, Julian Payne, emphasized the royals' desire to maintain some aspects of their lives as private. According to Payne, they recognize the public's interest in their relationships, family, and health, but also value the ability to control the narrative on their own terms.

Unlike other celebrities who may accept media attention as part of their profession, the royals, being born or married into their roles, have a different perspective. Payne highlighted the importance for them to have moments of privacy amidst constant scrutiny, where they can retreat from the public eye and focus on their personal lives.

Adapting to a Changing Landscape

As the royal family navigates through challenging times, Payne believes that they are constantly learning and evolving. The recent events have likely prompted them to reconsider how they share information and the extent to which they can safeguard their privacy.