Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced on Friday that she has cancer and is starting chemotherapy, asking for privacy as she goes through treatment.
Kate, as she is widely known, said finding out about the cancer after successful abdominal surgery in January was a big shock, but she is getting stronger every day.
In February, royal officials announced that King Charles III is getting treated for cancer, leading him to cancel all public appearances.
Charles expressed pride in Catherine for speaking out about her cancer, with messages of support from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the White House.
Kate’s brother James Middleton shared a childhood photo with his sister on Instagram, saying they have faced many challenges together and will support her through this one.
“As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”
William’s estranged US-based brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle wished “health and healing for Kate and the family”.
– ‘Preventative’ chemo –
Like Charles, the 42-year-old princess, whose husband Prince William is heir to the throne, did not disclose the exact nature of the cancer.
But she described the months since she went into hospital as “incredibly tough” for her, William and their three young children.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she added in a video statement, filmed on Wednesday at Windsor, west of London, where they live.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Preventative chemotherapy is given “after an operation to prevent recurrence”, said Shivan Sivakumar, associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham in central England.
“This is to attempt to destroy any circulating cancer cells,” he added.
Kate — one of the most photographed women in the world — is a central figure in the royal family and married Prince William, 41, in 2011.
She said it took 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, Kate and their children are seen as the modern face of the British royal family, and key to its future as it faces declining support, particularly among younger people.
Palace officials hope that the unusually open disclosure will put an end to speculation and rumors about her health and whereabouts, especially online.
– ‘Open’ –
“I think it’s important to know that they’re human just like us,” Hannah Dickerson, visiting London from the United States, told AFP outside Buckingham Palace.
“I think it’s very, very good that they’re open about showing that they’re not afraid to hide it.”
Kate was last seen at a public event on December 25, when she attended a Christmas Day church service with the king and other senior royals.
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that she would spend up to two weeks in the hospital and take several months to recover after having abdominal surgery.
It was said in a statement at that time that she was not expected to be ready for public duties until after Easter on March 31.
Royal officials did not reveal the exact nature of her condition but said it was not related to cancer.
Just before that announcement, Buckingham Palace stated that 75-year-old Charles was going to have surgery for a non-cancerous enlarged prostate.
– Controversial Photo –
He later stayed at the same private hospital in central London for three days. Afterwards, officials announced in early February that tests had found “a form of cancer”, without giving more details.
The king has canceled all public appearances except meetings with the prime minister and ambassadors, and has worked on official documents while receiving treatment.
He has been seen in photographs multiple times since then, and has been observed attending church.
Kensington Palace attempted to put an end to the increasing questions about Kate by releasing a Mother’s Day photo allegedly taken by William.
However, the plan went wrong when it was discovered that the photo had been digitally modified, leading major news agencies, including AFP, to withdraw the image.
This week, the British media published new pictures of the princess walking with William at a farmers’ market near their Windsor home.
This week, there were allegations that someone may have tried to access Kate’s private medical records, leading to a report being made to the UK data protection authority.
by AFP
