Princess of Wales finishes chemotherapy, but says path to healing and recovery ‘is long’
Catherine, the Princess of Wales will slowly return to royal duties but says staying cancer free is her priority and warns the road to healing and recovery is long despite finishing chemotherapy.
King Charles has led a chorus of well wishes to his daughter-in-law, Catherine, the Princess of Wales who announced on Monday relief at finishing chemotherapy for cancer.
Catherine has said she will focus on healing and King Charles and Queen Camilla have welcomed the development as “wonderful news”, offering their love thoughts and support to her as she continues on a path to full recovery.
Charles has forged a deep bond with Catherine in the past year as both have been undergoing gruelling chemotherapy in their separate cancer battles.
Catherine announced the news in a highly produced three minute video with echoes of a family home movie to emphasise the Wales’ importance of family and illustrating their particular closeness.
Buckingham Palace released a personal message from Catherine on Monday, accompanied with a heartwarming video showing her with husband William and their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte over the British summer.
Catherine said her cancer journey had been “complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone” but had had given her a “new perspective on everything” and a renewed focus on the “simple yet important things in life”.
Her message acknowledged that cancer had brought patients “face-to-face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before”.
Catherine will slowly return to the public eye with some engagements but her workload is expected to be light while she continues with her “long” recovery. She stressed that “doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus.”
The accompanying video makes it clear that her family has always been and will be her utmost priority.
In unprecedented public scenes, the video shows the intimacy between William and Catherine with the prince kissing Catherine, as well as warmly hugging their children on the beach.
At one point George yells: “Is this on?” appearing to work the video camera while Charlotte and Louis shout “Hello!”
To a background of soaring music, the family is shown enjoying the natural environment near their home Anmer Hall in Norfolk, climbing trees, logs and sand dunes with their dog. Catherine’s close relationship with her parents – a key part of her inner circle during her cancer treatment – is illustrated with the family playing cards with both Carole and Michael.
Catherine, 42, shocked the world in March when she announced that tests had revealed the presence of cancer following major abdominal surgery in January.
In a rare update in June, Catherine said she had good days and bad, had made “good progress” in her chemotherapy but was not out of the woods yet.
While she made a last minute appearance for Trooping the Colour on June 15, she appeared very thin and looked wan.
However six weeks later Catherine took Charlotte to the Wimbledon final, receiving a standing ovation, and she was noticeably relaxed and appeared healthier and more comfortable.
In the latest update, the Princess says: “As the (British) summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant, and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.
“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. With humility, it also brings you face-to-face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.
“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.
“Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes.
“I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”
Catherine is expected to attend a handful of public engagements, perhaps on Remembrance Sunday and a Christmas carol concert for children at Westminster Abbey.
Catherine also sent a message to everyone who has sent good wishes, saying she and William were grateful for the support and had drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.
“Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling,’’ she said.
“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side-by-side, hand-in-hand. Out of darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright.”
During the long summer school holidays, Catherine and William and the children had spent time in Norfolk and also went to Balmoral for a family get together with King Charles, who is also battling cancer.
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