Princess of Wales announces she is receiving treatment for cancer

London: Catherine, Princess of Wales, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for cancer that was discovered after she underwent major abdominal surgery in January in an emotional message released on social media.

The wife of the heir to the British throne said it had been “an incredibly tough couple of months” for her family, but said she was “well and getting stronger every day”.

Catherine, 42, said in a message released on Friday evening (Saturday morning AEDT), that she was receiving preventative chemotherapy and that she and her family needed “time, space and privacy” while she completed the treatment.

Describing her “huge shock” upon discovering the news, she said that she and her husband William, Prince of Wales, had “been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family”, which had “taken time”.

Her whereabouts and the state of her health have been the subject of frenzied speculation on social media in recent weeks given her absence from the public eye. Kensington Palace had originally announced in January that Catherine would be stopping all public engagements until after Easter while she recovered.

She said the driving force for keeping the condition private until now has been an overwhelming desire to protect their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, who began their school holidays on Friday.

Prince William and Princess Catherine.Credit: Getty

Dressed informally in jeans and a white, striped jumper and sitting on a bench in the gardens, she said one of the toughest parts had been telling her three children.

“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,” she said in the video, which was recorded on Wednesday.

“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.”

Several British media outlets quoted palace sources saying the cancer diagnosis was the “personal matter” that led to Prince William pulling out from a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine II, in late February.

The Princess of Wales with her children following last year’s Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.Credit: Getty

She said, like her father-in-law King Charles III, tests after her surgery at The London Clinic had revealed cancer had been found.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

In a statement, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said they hoped Catherine and her family were able to deal with the news away from the scrutiny of the media.

“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” they said.

Charles, 75, announced in February he was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer which was discovered when he underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate. He has withdrawn from public duties while he has cancer treatment, though he’s appeared frequently in photos carrying on meetings with government officials and dignitaries and was even seen going to church.

Catherine asked for “time, space and privacy” while she receives treatment after conspiracy theories about her wellbeing had spread after she apologised for releasing a Mother’s Day family portrait that she had digitally altered. The picture, which showed the princess with her three children in a family setting, was the first to be released by Kensington Palace since she underwent surgery. But several international picture agencies withdrew it from circulation citing evidence that it had been manipulated.

Addressing questions about the resumption of her royal duties in the video clip, she said she looked forward “to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery”.

Buckingham Palace also released a statement, saying King Charles was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did”.

The King, the palace said, had remained in close contact with “his beloved daughter-in-law” in recent weeks. The statement added that Charles and Queen Camilla would “continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his “thoughts are with” the princess and her family, adding that she enjoys the “love and support of the whole country” as she continues her recovery.

He commended her “tremendous bravery” for speaking out publicly and said she had been “unfairly treated” by some sections of the media around the world and on social media.

Earlier this week, a British privacy watchdog said it was investigating a report that staff at the private London hospital where she was treated tried to snoop on her medical records while she was a patient for abdominal surgery.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent his words of concern on the news.

“My thoughts, and those of Australians, are with the Princess of Wales and her family following the news of her cancer diagnosis.”

“The Princess of Wales has shown extraordinary courage with her public statement today, in which she expresses her concern for others.

“We are sending support and strength in this difficult time as she undergoes treatment, and we wish her well for a speedy recovery.”

With agencies

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