Princess Kate shares emotional video message and says ‘it’s been tough – but William is by my side’ after cancer shock
PRINCESS Kate tonight shared an emotional video message as she revealed she is undergoing treatment for cancer.
The royal bravely opened up and said she’d had an “incredibly tough” couple of months – but Prince William had strongly stood at her side.
The mum-of-three has been missing from royal duties since she underwent a planned abdominal surgery on January 17.
Today, sitting in front of a field of daffodils, the princess shared she had cancer.
The 42-year-old said she had waited to break the news at a time best for her children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Kate said: “It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family – but I have had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me for which I am so grateful.”
The princess explained that when she underwent surgery in January, it was thought her condition was non-cancerous.
However, post-operation tests found cancer, and she was recommended she undergo treatment.
Kate continued: “This of course came as a huge shock.
“William and I have been doing everything I can to process this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine this has taken time.
“It has taken time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
“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.”
Kate said she’s getting “stronger every day”, but said she would not return to work until she was well.
The princess also shared a poignant message to others who were undergoing cancer treatment.
She said: “I must focus on making a full recovery at this time I am also thinking of all those lives affected by cancer.
“For everyone facing this disease in whatever form please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
The Princess’ last royal engagement was last year – when she beamed alongside Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham.
Three weeks later, on January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Princess Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery the day prior.
A statement from the Palace read: “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.
Timeline of Kate’s health battle
JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess underwent surgery, saying she wants to “apologise to all those concerned” about her postponing upcoming engagements. The Princess is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
JAN 18: Supportive William spends time at Kate’s bedside in the clinic.
JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay reaches one week
JAN 29: Palaces announces Kate leaves hospital and returns home to rcover there
FEBRUARY 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MARCH 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate and snap published by international media
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she Photoshopped the photo – saying she lives “experimenting with editing”, and is then snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor, saying she looked “happy”
Mar 17: Onlookers see doting mum Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively publishes video of Kate and Wills from two days prior – with princess beaming as she chats to hubby
Mar 20: The heir reportedly asks “when will it stop?” over wild theories flying about his wife
“She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.
“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.
“The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.
“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”
The palace said Kate would not return to royal duties until after Easter.
On February 27, Prince William pulled out of a service last minute over a “personal matter” – now known to be linked to Kate’s health.
On March 4, the princess was seen for the first time since her operation.
She was in the passenger seat as mum Carole, 69, drove her in an Audi near Windsor Castle.
On Mother’s Day, the princess shared a sweet snap of her and her youngsters.
But, eagle-eyed royal fans were quick to spot flaws in the snap and claim the pic was edited – before photo agencies ordered a “kill notice” on the pic.
'Lay off Kate'
THE Sun last week led the way in defending Princess Kate when she was being criticised from all angles over the edited photo saga.
Social media trolls were quick to attack the future Queen over her editing of a Mother’s Day family picture.
Media critics also weighed in with their opinions alongside the idiotic conspiracy theorists, but The Sun stood alone in saying: Lay off Kate.
Our front page blasted: “The furious attacks on the future Queen over her photoshopping of a Mother’s Day family picture are not just absurd.
“They now look like a bullying campaign against a devoted mum, recovering from a serious operation, who simply wanted to offer the public a perfect portrait of her and her kids.
“She meant well, made a mistake and fessed up. Fair enough.
“Now leave her alone to get over her op.”
This saw crazy conspiracy theorists throw around more vile theories online – before Kate admitted on March 11 that she had “experimented with editing“.
That afternoon she was spotted in the car with Prince William as they left Windsor Castle.
That same day The Sun called for the social media trolls, idiotic conspiracy theorists, and sniping media critics to “lay off Kate”.
It came as it was said the princess was “very sad” that the sweet photo had triggered a global furore.
The trolls kept picking her to pieces online – while Prince William continued his royal duties.
Last Saturday royal fans spotted Princess Kate out and about near her home at Windsor.
One told The Sun she looked “happy” as she stopped into the farm shop a mile from her Adelaide Cottage.
A witness at the farm shop in Windsor said: “After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there.
“Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.”
Another fan said they also saw the princess on Sunday – watching her kids play sport.
On Monday, we exclusively published a video of Kate and Wills – strolling side-by-side near the farm shop.
The couple carried bags of shopping as they wandered through the car park.
Kate, 42, dressed casually in a hoodie and leggings, while Wills was sporting a cap and blue jeans.
But despite the princess being snapped looking well wild conspiracy theories have continued spreading.
Outrageous theories are still swirling on the likes of X, TikTok and Instagram.
Crazy cynics have tried to say it’s a body double walking with Wills in the clip from the weekend – or that it’s not the royals at all.
This saw them slammed by royal experts alike – who dubbed them “poisonous”.
On Wednesday it was reported that Wills was now asking: “When will it stop?“
Kate's statement in full
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.
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.
This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
But, 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.
As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.
My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.