Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed cancer was discovered following major abdominal surgery earlier this year, and that she’s currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me for which I am so grateful,” the princess said Friday.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
The 42-year-old British royal provided the health update in a short yet emotional clip shared on social media. It marked the first time Kate Middleton has directly addressed the public since she checked into the London Clinic back in January.
“The surgery was successful, however tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” Middleton said. “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Kensington Palace in a statement released at the time of the surgery said Middleton’s condition was non-cancerous. Officials have provided little other information, including the specifics surrounding the procedure, but said it was unlikely she would return to her royal duties before Easter.
Still, her absence from the public eye sparked rumors, conspiracy theories and headlines in newspapers and websites around the world regarding her whereabouts. And a Photoshop faux-pas earlier this month only further fueled the widespread speculation.
On March 10, the palace released an official image of the royal and her three children — George, 10; Charlotte, 8; and Louis, 5 — to celebrate Mother’s Day in the U.K. But within hours it was yanked from major news websites, including The Associated Press, over concerns it had been digitally manipulated.
The princess later took blame for the altered image, claiming that as “an amateur photographer” she enjoyed experimenting with editing.
Middleton in her video on Friday also touched on the public’s interest, explaining that her cancer diagnosis came as a “huge shock” for her and her family. She added that she and husband Prince William have been “doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she continued. “But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
The announcement came just weeks after 75-year-old King Charles revealed he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. What type of cancer Middleton has is also unclear.
You can read the full transcript of Princess Catherine’s video statement below:
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful. In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment. This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be okay. As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery. At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
