Catherine Princess of Wales reveals cancer diagnosis in video message
The Princess of Wales says she delayed the announcement so as to tell the children and to reassure them and offers a message of hope to others battling cancer: ‘You are not alone’.
The Princess of Wales has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
Catherine, 42 made the seismic announcement herself sitting on a park bench in a garden surrounded by yellow tulips early this morning Australian time.
With her voicing cracking as she talked about the implications for her family, and the need to reassure her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Catherine said she was now undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy.
The seismic news that Catherine has some sort of cancer, following the recent news that King Charles is also battling an unspecified cancer has rocked the nation.
Catherine explained that she undergone the major abdominal surgery in January thinking the condition was non-cancerous.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
She described receiving “a huge shock” with the cancer diagnosis and said she had spent the past weeks trying to manage the news privately for the sake of her young family.
Catherine said: “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.”
She added: “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 ok.”
The dramatic news about Catherine’s health comes after weeks of feverish speculation and silence from the palace.
The cancer was discovered following the 42-year-old’s sudden abdominal surgery on January 17 at The London Clinic. At the time the palace insisted that Catherine’s unspecified health concern did not involve cancer.
The palace had been in turmoil, firstly saying that Catherine would return to royal duties after Easter, a time frame that was pushed out to after the Easter school holidays which finish in mid April. She will now withdraw from public life while concentrating on her health. She said that she was “well” and “healing”.
“As I have said to them (George, Charlotte and Louis) I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.”
Catherine said having William by her side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you.”
A Buckingham Palace aide said King Charles was ‘so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did’.
Following their time in hospital together in January, when Catherine underwent her surgery and Charles was dealing with his own cancer diagnosis after prostate surgery, the palace said His Majesty has remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.
“Both the King and Queen will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time’, the aide said.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said Catherine began her preventative chemotherapy in late February after post operative tests, following successful surgery, had shown the presence of cancer.
The spokesperson said she would now focus on her health and her family having decided that now was the right time to share the news as a family.
“Prince William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since the start of the year” the palace said.
He would be expected to have some time off over the coming school holidays to support Catherine and the children before resuming full royal duties in late April.
It has also emerged that Prince William missed the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece last month due to the diagnosis, which came at around the same time.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was one of the first to react to the news and attacked the “unfair treatment” of the Princess of Wales in recent weeks on social media. The princess has been subject to rabid conjecture of her whereabouts and health status, fuelled when William unexpectedly missed the funeral of his god father the former King of Greece on February 27, citing a “personal matter”.
At the time the palace said Catherine “continue to be doing well”.
Mr Sunak said on X, formerly Twitter: “She has shown tremendous bravery with her statement today.
“In recent weeks she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media.”
Britain’s Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was heartened by Catherine’s “optimistic tone” and sent his very best wishes to Her Royal Highness at this distressing time.
He said: “Our thoughts are with the whole Royal Family as they come to terms with the news and as they support The Princess of Wales through her treatment and recovery.”
US President Joe Biden was incredibly sad to hear of the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis.
“We just heard, obviously, all of us just heard the terrible news,” said Mr Biden’s official spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre at the White House’s daily press briefing.”
In the final moments of her announcement, Catherine encouraged those facing cancer not to “lose faith or hope”.
She said:“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.”
The video statement in full:
“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 ok.
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.”
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