London, UK – After a lot of guessing, British people learned on Saturday that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has cancer. Many admired her bravery.
Some people criticized the rumors about her absence.
Catherine shared the news in a personal video released on Friday, shortly after King Charles III revealed that he is also battling cancer.
The honest disclosure puts the British monarchy in a difficult situation as two of its most important members are dealing with serious illness at the same time.
Charles, who had been ruling for 17 months when Buckingham Palace announced in February that he would be cancelling all public activities, led the tributes to his daughter-in-law.
The 75-year-old monarch, who is in poor health, expressed his pride in her bravery for sharing her story.
In addition to warm words from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the White House, British newspapers praised the courage of the 42-year-old wife of Prince William.
The Sun's front page read, “Kate, you are not alone,” and mentioned that it was comforting to hear Kate talk about getting stronger.
The Daily Mail criticized the spreading of conspiracy theories on social media about her absence from public life.
At Kensington Palace in London, a 24-year-old government worker, Nathaniel Taylor, expressed his dismay about the media's reaction over the past few months.
– Request for privacy –
Outside Kensington Palace in London, Nathaniel Taylor, a 24-year-old government worker, said: “I think it’s really damning what happened to them, what the media has done, how they’ve reacted over these past couple of months.
“I think some speculation is inevitable but the lengths people were going to try and make things up it’s just (too much). Hopefully people take a look in the mirror.”
At Tower Bridge, Sofia, a 19-year-old student who did not give her family name, said she had seen “weird accusations” about the absence and that the true reason was “sad”.
“Obviously it was a much (more) serious matter”, she said.
In her statement, Kate, as the princess is widely known, admitted the diagnosis was a “huge shock” and asked for “time, space and privacy” as she completes chemotherapy.
In the video — recorded Wednesday in Windsor, west of London, where the future queen and king live with their three young children — she insisted she was “well”.
She said it had taken them time to explain the situation to Prince George, aged 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis, “and to reassure them that I am going to be OK”.
“William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” Kate added.
Commentators praised the direct approach in the video, where the princess spoke to the camera while sitting on a garden bench.
“So many people will have been so moved by the way that she conducted herself during that two minute plus broadcast,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told AFP.
“But there’s no doubt at all that it’s a very, very difficult time for the institution of monarchy,” he added.
– Royal health problems –
On February 5, Buckingham Palace announced that tests revealed Charles had "a form of cancer" without providing more details.
He has canceled all public events except meetings with the prime minister and ambassadors, and has been working on official documents while getting treatment.
He has been seen in photographs several times since then, and has been observed attending church.
Kate was last observed at a public event on December 25.
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that she would spend up to two weeks in the hospital and several months recovering from abdominal surgery.
At the time, a statement said she was not expected to be ready to resume public duties until after Easter on March 31.
– 'Doing their best' –
However, Kate revealed that tests conducted after the surgery "detected the presence of cancer" and that she is now undergoing "preventative chemotherapy".
Kensington Palace stated that she would return to official duties "once her medical team gives clearance".
“Preventive chemotherapy after surgery is given to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the future,” Andrew Beggs, a senior clinical fellow and consultant colorectal surgeon at the University of Birmingham, said.
He added it was “a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you’ve spilt something on it,” noting chemotherapy “kills any spilt cells”.
Meanwhile, the royal family is experiencing a personnel crisis, with two members dealing with serious health issues and others stepping back from frontline duties.
William’s younger brother Harry and wife Meghan left the royal frontline in 2020 and now live in the US, largely estranged from the family following the acrimonious split.
The king’s remaining brother Andrew is also out of commission, stepping down from royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous television interview in which he defended his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
by Agence France-Presse
