King Charles, Queen Camilla ‘so proud’ of Catherine after cancer reveal

King Charles and Camilla praise Catherine’s ‘courage for speaking as she did’, while Harry and Meghan issue a short statement.

Catherine, The Princess of Wales, announced that she is receiving a preventative course of chemotherapy for cancer. Picture: Getty Images.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have said they are “so proud” of the Princess of Wales as she revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer.

Catherine, 42 made the seismic announcement in a video, as she sat on a park bench in a garden surrounded by yellow tulips early this morning Australian time.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen wished to pay tribute to Kate’s “courage in speaking as she did” in a video revealing the diagnosis.

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.”

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan wished the Princess of Wales “health and healing’’. In a short one sentence statement the couple, now in Montecito, California, referred to Catherine as “Kate”, indicating the message was issued by their PR team, or perhaps Meghan.

Harry has usually called his sister-in-law Catherine, which is her preferred name.

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

In a moving message, Kate’s brother James Middleton shared a picture of himself and his sister on Instagram, writing: “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”

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.

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.

The Princess of Wales has the love and support of the whole country. pic.twitter.com/IFX51Wm5Q3

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) March 22, 2024

“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.”

Anthony Albanese praised her “extraordinary courage”.

“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,” the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

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

US President Joe Biden said he 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.”

“Our thoughts are with the Duchess of Cambridge and her family members and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” she said. “Certainly we wish her a full recovery. And I think it’s important that we respect their privacy, especially at this time.”

She added: “I know folks are going to ask if the president has spoken to her or the family. I can just say right now that we don’t have anything to share at this time, but obviously we wish the Duchess of Cambridge a full recovery, and we are incredibly sad to hear of the news.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the thoughts of all New Zealanders were with Catherine.

“I know Kiwis across the world will be wishing her well in her recovery,” Mr Luxon said on X.

New Zealand’s thoughts are this morning with the Princess of Wales following the news of her cancer diagnosis. I know Kiwis across the world will be wishing her well in her recovery.

— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) March 22, 2024

Professor Patricia Price from Catch up with Cancer campaign said the Princess of Wales’ public statement about her health was “absolutely amazing” given she was in the midst of treatment and that her words would help so many other patients dealing with cancer.

Professor Price told Sky News that preventative chemotherapy mentioned by Catherine was used to target fast growing cells which can lead to overwhelming fatigue and can impact on the bone marrow resulting in blood counts dropping and involves some vomiting.

She said different cancer regimes have different impacts on different people, and some people tolerate the treatment really well.

“Hopefully this is one for her to cope with,’’ she said.

Professor Price has been lobbying for the government to prioritise the treatment of cancer on the National Health Service because “we need to get on and treat people to save lives, it is really important”.

The waiting times for NHS cancer treatment has been blowing out for years.

Cancer Research UK said only 62.3% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral in January 2024.

The princess underwent private health treatment at The London Clinic and is unlikely to be receiving NHS services.