The Princess of Wales this week released an unusually intimate documentary-style video to announce she has finished her cancer treatment.

Notably, the slick production looked a long way from the botched Photoshop-AI picture disaster Kate released in March, an image that turbocharged a firestorm of rumour and innuendo about the Princess’s wellbeing.

The latest release has also raised questions about what’s planned for Kate’s immediate future.

Following preventative chemotherapy after abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace has taken control of the narrative and dropped the ground-breaking, three-minute video on social media at the end of the English summer.

No palace press release or a statement to camera from an official on important royal announcements, this time the palace hired London-based filmmaker and brand influencer Will Warr to make the Wales’ good news story come to life.

Modern classic

It shows highly curated scenes of Kate and her husband, Prince William, both 42, laying on their backs in sand dunes near the beach, holding hands and playing with their three children, George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis 6.

Kisses on the cheek, cuddles galore, board games with grandparents, and tinkling piano mixed with dramatic organ chords.

A white butterfly on the edge of Kate’s hand going free.

“Wow. Worthy of a #BAFTA … this film is groundbreaking, showing that the Royal PR machine has finally surrounded itself with a team that truly grasps the demands of the modern age,” wrote UK strategist Mark Borkowski, author of two books on publicity stunts.

“It redefines the playbook for Royal comms, breaking new ground,” he said on X.

Keeping it reel

A videographer, Warr, who filmed their 10th anniversary video and a snippet from the King’s coronation, used the home-movie reel technique especially the intimate Kate and William scenes.

“It is highly emotional and full of harvest colours heading into an almost melancholy tone, as Catherine walks in the countryside with her family,” writes the BBC’s royal correspondent Sean Coughlan.

“There’s a soft focus, cinematic touch to this message.

“Instead of footnotes and explainers about the completion of her chemotherapy, there’s stylised filming and an intimate first-person narration.”

Kate reflects on her health challenges with husband William. Photo: Prince and Princess of Wales

‘Particularly poignant’

Posting the finished film on Instagram, Warr, who mostly makes food, travel and weddings videos, thanked the Princess of Wales for “trusting” him.

“It’s always an honour to produce films for [Kate] but this one was particularly poignant.”

Filmed in eastern England in Norfolk in August, the film marks only the third time Kate has appeared since she posted a video message in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in her latest message.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.

“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus.

“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

“Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.

“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand.

“Out of darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright.”

The future?

In June, Kate made her first public appearance since her health issues emerged at the annual military parade, Trooping the Colour, to mark the King’s official birthday.

She waved to crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony with her young family.

In July, she received a standing ovation at Wimbledon’s men’s final.

The palace declined to give any further details about the type of cancer or other specifics about her treatment, other than to say the preventative chemotherapy began in February.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said in the video.

She said she was looking forward to returning to public duties when she was able, although her program for the remainder of the year will remain light.

Welcome return

She will potentially join the King on November 10 at the national service in Whitehall in honour of those who died in conflict for Remembrance Day.

Planning is also said to be under way for her annual televised Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December.

No date has been set for her return to public life, but the princess is understood to be holding more regular meetings as she works from home.

Respected veteran royal commentator Dicky Arbiter said there were “no words” from him after this latest video was released, other than to say “the pictures speak volumes”.

“Good to have you back, ma’am.”