The Princess of Wales has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is in the early stages of undergoing chemotherapy.
In a “personal message” filmed by the BBC in the gardens of Windsor Castle, Catherine told of her “shock” when she discovered her condition after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January.
She has since been the focus of rumors, with Friday’s news prompting Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to condemn “sensational” and “unfair” speculation in recent weeks.
Catherine said she and her husband, Prince William, needed time to explain the situation to their three children, George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5.
“This is of course a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to deal with and manage this matter privately for the sake of our young family,” she said. “As you can imagine, it took time. It took me some time to recover from the major surgery before I could start treatment. But most importantly, we spent some time delivering the message to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that suited George, Charlotte and Louis. They explained everything and reassured them that I would be fine.”
King Charles, 75, who is also undergoing cancer treatment and was hospitalized at the same time as Catherine in January, said he was proud of Catherine “for having the courage to speak the way she did”.
“After they were hospitalized together, [His Majesty] “Over the past few weeks, he has been in closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law,” Buckingham Palace said. “Their Majesties ‘will continue to provide love and support to the whole family through this difficult time’.”
Buckingham Palace said Catherine began chemotherapy at the end of February. It is understood her public announcement coincided with her children being out of school over the Easter holidays.
Catherine, who wore a white sweater with black stripes, spoke with no apparent nervousness but briefly lowered her head as she spoke of her family’s shock at the news.
Buckingham Palace said Catherine wanted to provide a medical update to end speculation over her admission to a London clinic on January 16 for major abdominal surgery. At the time, Buckingham Palace refused to confirm what treatment Kathleen was receiving but said her condition was not cancer.
Catherine said the cancer was discovered only after surgery. In a statement made public on Friday, Catherine began by thanking those who had sent messages of support, saying she was feeling great and “getting stronger every day.”
She added: “It has been an extremely difficult few months for our family but I have an amazing medical team who have taken great care of me and I am so grateful.
“In January I had major abdominal surgery in London and my condition was thought to be non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, post-surgery tests revealed that cancer was already present. Therefore, my medical team recommended that I should have a The course of preventive chemotherapy, and I’m in the early stages of treatment now.”
Catherine said she has been able to reassure her children that she will recover from her diagnosis. “As I tell them; I am getting healthier and getting stronger every day by focusing on things that help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit,” she said. “Having William by my side also brings me great comfort and reassurance. As does the love, support and kindness shown by so many of you. It means so much to both of us.”
It is understood the cancer diagnosis was a “personal matter” that led William to withdraw from a memorial service for his godfather Constantine II at the end of February.
The royal couple, who will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary next month, have endured weeks of rumors about Catherine’s condition. The speculation only intensified when the first official photo released of the Princess of Wales following abdominal surgery two months ago was recalled by some of the world’s biggest photo agencies amid claims it had been doctored.
Soon after, she issued a public apology for the “mess-up” and said she had been responsible for the digital editing of Mother’s Day family photos.
In a statement released on Friday, Catherine asked for time and space to complete her treatment and said she looked forward to returning to royal duties.
She said: “We hope you can understand that as a family we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me deep joy and I look forward to working on it when I am able.” Back, but now I have to focus on making a full recovery.
“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. To everyone facing this disease, in whatever form it takes, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
Buckingham Palace did not provide any further information on the type of cancer that had been discovered.
Responding to the news, Sunak condemned the treatment of the princess “in some media and social media around the world”.
Starmer said: “Any cancer diagnosis is shocking. But I can only imagine how stressful it must be to receive this news amid the sensational speculation we have seen in recent weeks.”
