Princess Kate announces cancer diagnosis – “Big shock”
Princess Kate has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy
The wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, has been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery. Princess Kate is receiving chemotherapy, as she said in a video message that has now been published.
Princess Kate is suffering from cancer. The wife of heir to the throne Prince William announced via video message on Friday evening that she was already undergoing chemotherapy. She is doing “well” and is already getting “stronger,” said the mother of three.
bPrincess Kate has been diagnosed with cancer following her abdominal surgery. The wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, is receiving chemotherapy, she said in a video message released on Friday. That was of course a “big shock,” said the 42-year-old. There had previously been speculation about her health for weeks.
The daughter-in-law of King Charles III, who is also being treated for cancer, has not attended public appointments for a long time. She said that when she had abdominal surgery in January, doctors did not suspect cancer. The operation was “successful”, but cancer was discovered during examinations after the operation. The doctors advised her to undergo “preventative chemotherapy” “and I am now in the initial phase of this treatment”. She did not say exactly what type of cancer she was suffering from.
Kate went on to say she was “doing well” and feeling “stronger” again. Chemotherapy started in February. The 42-year-old asked that she be given “time” to complete her treatment and that her “privacy” be respected. The mother of three said she not only needed time for herself, to recover from the operation and to gain strength for cancer treatment. “Most importantly, we needed time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that was appropriate for them and to reassure them that I would be fine,” Catherine (“Kate”) continued .
Edited photo fueled speculation about health status
The news ends weeks of rumors and speculation. The unexpected medical procedure, but also the princess’s subsequent long absence without any signs of life, caused confusion not only in Great Britain, but also criticism of the royal family’s information policy.
Kensington Palace, for example, published a picture of Kate with her three children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8) and Prince Louis (5) for Mother’s Day. However, the photo was later withdrawn by several news agencies due to allegations of image manipulation. The princess then took the blame herself and explained that she was the one who edited the photo on the computer.
The princess at a public event in December 2023
Source: picture alliance/empics/Aaron Chown
Princess Catherine, formerly known as Kate Middleton and married to Prince William since 2011, is one of the most popular members of the British royal family. It was only at the beginning of February that the palace announced that King Charles III. is suffering from cancer.
Recently, a number of speculations and conspiracy stories about her condition had spread online. A few days ago, the Mirror newspaper reported that up to three employees of the private clinic where Kate was treated tried to view her medical records. The hospital announced an investigation.
King Charles praises his “beloved daughter-in-law”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured the princess of the support of the entire country. “She has shown enormous courage with her announcement today,” Sunak said in a statement. It continued: “I know I speak for the entire country in wishing her a speedy and full recovery, and I look forward to seeing her back in action when she is ready.”
The White House also expressed its condolences after Princess Kate’s cancer became known. Our thoughts are with Kate, her family and her friends, said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. “And of course we wish her a full recovery.” It is now particularly important to respect her privacy, Jean-Pierre continued.
Respect and recognition also came from the monarch himself. King Charles III expressly praised the openness of his “beloved daughter-in-law”. Charles is “so proud of Catherine for her courage” to talk about her illness, Buckingham Palace said on Friday. Charles is currently battling cancer, which was also diagnosed after a medical procedure.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan also wished their sister-in-law “health and healing.” “We wish Kate and her family health and healing and hope that they can do so privately and peacefully,” the couple, who live in California, said in a statement.