Kate Middleton and family to ‘cocoon’ after shock cancer statement

The Princess of Wales and her family have retreated to a country estate, as more details emerged about her televised address to the nation in which she revealed her cancer diagnosis.

The Wales family has retreated to their Norfolk home to spend time out of the public eye and give their three young children space to continue their childhood in privacy.

Princess Catherine is said to be acutely aware of the impact her cancer diagnosis can have on her young family.

It has emerged that the much-loved royal decided to make her emotional cancer speech two weeks ago but waited until Friday UK time before releasing it in order to protect her children.

It is understood the Princess of Wales “wrote every word” of her televised address.

She deliberately chose the last day of the school to air the video address before going into “protect mode” and decamping to Anmer Hall, where the family goes this time each year.

Insiders say Catherine is keen to shield her children from the public while the news of her diagnosis is still fresh and is especially keen to ensure Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are not subjected to playground gossip.

The Princess of Wales is receiving a preventative course of chemotherapy for cancer and has retreated with family to Anmer Hall. Picture: Getty Images

The Sun’s editor Victoria Newton told BBC radio: “It was actually, I understand, that the Princess made the decision two weeks ago that she was going to do this public statement.

“The key thing for her as a mother, the priority was protecting those three children.

“She didn’t want them going to school, being asked even more than they already were.
“They were already being affected at school, so it was always her plan that she would wait until the last day of term,” she said.

“Obviously they’ve endured an incredible amount of social media speculation which has been really hard for them to handle, but the priority for her was always those children.”

WILLIAM’S SUPPORT FOR BRAVE KAT

Catherine revealed to the public in a video message on Friday that doctors had discovered cancer after she underwent abdominal surgery.

On the same day the televised announcement was aired, the family left for Norfolk.

While supportive of his wife’s decision to go public to quell the scrutiny around her health and whereabouts, Prince William is said to have told his wife “You don’t have to do this”.

It is understood that Catherine, 42, chose to front her video announcement alone, without William, and openly discuss her “huge shock” at discovering she had cancer and the difficulties the family have since faced, because “she wanted to own it and give support to other people fighting cancer,” a source said.

“It is very unusual for the princess to do this and be so open, she is naturally quite shy but she wanted to stop the rumours about why she has kept a low profile since her surgery and to silence rumours that she and William have split.”

She also felt under pressure to return to work after Easter, as was originally planned, but Kensington Palace has now confirmed she will return when she feels fit and well.

“She saw the support the King received when he revealed he had cancer and that encouraged her to film the video,” the source added.

“She wants to offer the same support and encouragement to others in her situation.”

The family decision to now cocoon themselves comes after the princess said in her video message: “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.”

William will be with the family until the end of the holiday on April 17, after which he will return to public duty.

The palace confirmed they will not be photographed walking to St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Easter Sunday and the princess intends to make only the occasional public appearance. Neither William nor the children will attend church.

The princess may be seen in public when she visits London for cancer treatment and will be advised by her medical team when she can return to work.

Anmer Hall, a Georgian country house on the Sandringham Estate is in the village of Anmer in Norfolk, where the Wales’s will focus on the family.

The Princess of Wales during her emotional video message.

After weeks of wild speculation about the Princess of Wales’s health, reports are emerging that China, Russia and Iran may be fuelling “disinformation” about the royal in a bid to “destabilise” Britain.

British government sources told The Telegraph there are fears that “hostile states” are to blame for the bizarre conspiracy theories and online rumours surrounding the princess’s health.

A government source told The Telegraph: “Part of the modus operandi of hostile states is to destabilise things – whether that is undermining the legitimacy of our elections or other institutions.”

‘BE BRAVE’: GIRL WHO STOLE KATE’S HEART SPEAKS OUT

A little girl who stole Princess Catherine’s heart as she endured her own childhood cancer battle has sent the royal a heartwarming message of support.

Mila Sneddon told Scotland’s Sunday Mail she was “deeply saddened” by the princess’s diagnosis.

The eight-year-old, who met Catherine twice after a photo of her in isolation while having treatment for leukaemia went viral during the pandemic, has told the royal “you will be brave because I was”.

The princess sent Mila a handwritten note after she was given the all-clear from the disease two years ago.

In 2021, they met at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh for tea where Catherine kept her promise to wear Mila’s favourite colour, pink.

Originally published as Kate Middleton and family to ‘cocoon’ after shock cancer statement