Why Kate's emotional video message is a haunting reminder of Diana's final public address

From the moment Catherine, the Princess of Wales, married Prince William, she has been endlessly compared to another famous Princess of Wales: Diana.

Kate's role as wife of the future King of England effectively meant she was the new 'people's princess' in the eyes of the public. It was a tough act to follow, but after the royal's devastating cancer diagnosis, their similarities are now as stark as ever.?

The Princess of Wales' public video message was a rare and unprecedented move for a royal. Addressing rumours and speaking about major health issues has long been taboo for the British monarchy.

Kate speaking directly to camera, candidly and emotionally, was a haunting reminder of a filmed video message shared by Diana 31 years ago.

Watch the video above.?

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In 1993, Diana made a statement in front of a room of cameras and journalists and spoke directly about the intense scrutiny she'd been receiving.

"I was not aware of how overwhelming that attention would become, nor the extent to which it would affect both my public duties and my personal life, in a manner that's been hard to bear," Diana told the world.

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"At the end of this year when I've completed my diary of official engagements I will be reducing the extent of the public life I've led so far."

In that message, Diana also made a plea for privacy and asked people to, essentially, leave her alone.

"I hope you can find it in your hearts to understand and to give me the time and space that has been lacking in recent years," she continued.

"I couldn't stand here today and make this sort of statement without acknowledging the heartfelt support I've been given by the public in general. Your kindness and generous affection has carried me through some of the most difficult periods."

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Kate's video message announcing news of her cancer diagnosis also saw her clearly ask for privacy as she grapples with the news and continues her preventative chemotherapy.

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"We hope that you'll understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment," Kate said.

It's not only the public that have noticed Diana and Kate's royal trajectories are now following similar paths.

According to one royal expert, William also holds fears for his wife as fans and the press hound her and the palace for more information.

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"Having seen his mother go through quite a lot of that, the hounding of his mother, I think [Prince William] feels he's seeing elements of that being repeated again in terms of the demands and screeches at his wife over her medical privacy," Roya Nikkah, the Sunday Times' royal editor, told Good Morning Britain earlier this month.

"That's hurting him," Nikkah added. "He always has been [sensitive to that]. Ever since he was a child and ever since he's been with Catherine. Since university."

As history proves, Diana was not granted the privacy that she graciously requested back in 1993.

Kate's announcement has squashed some of the darker rumours about her whereabouts, however it's unlikely the Princess of Wales will be able to retreat fully from the public.

But, as English monarchy expert Carolyn Harris told USA Today, the Wales family will remain away from the spotlight for some time. It won't be forever, though, and Kate will be forced to return as a working royal.

"It's likely that we're going to see William and Catherine and their children out of the public eye," she said.

"There's going to be less scrutiny of Catherine's health, but there's going to continue to be a lot of public interest in her course of treatment, (and) when she will return to public duties."

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