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LONDON – Kate, Princess of Wales, announced Friday that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, breaking her silence after weeks of widespread speculation about her health.
The 42-year-old wife of Prince William, Britain’s future king, was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in a private London clinic after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January.
Her condition was thought to be non-cancerous and the surgery had been successful, Kate said Friday in a rare video message. “However,” she said, “tests performed after the operation revealed that there was cancer.”
Kate said she was now receiving “a course of preventive chemotherapy” on the advice of her medical team. She did not specify what type of cancer she has or what stage it was in, and Kensington Palace, the couple’s royal home, has not said why the operation was necessary.
“I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” Kate said in the statement released by the palace. She thanked the public for their support but also asked for “time, space and privacy” while she completed her treatment.
“This, of course, was a great shock, and William and I have been doing our best to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It took me a while to recover from major surgery so I could start my treatment,” Kate said.
“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 assure them that I am going to be fine,” he added, referring to his three young people. children.
Kate also had a message for those affected by the disease.
“At this moment I also think of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer,” he said. “To all those facing this disease, whatever its form, do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
At the time of Kate’s operation, William postponed a number of commitments as he juggled being with his wife and caring for his children.
King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer last month and has been receiving treatment. Buckingham Palace has not specified the type of cancer or what stage it was found in, although the announcement marked a break with royal history which has often seen illnesses hidden from the public.
Kate’s surgery and her removal from the public eye sparked comments and conspiracy theories that spread across social media. On Friday, Kate asked for privacy.
“I’m doing well and I’m getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal: in my mind, body and spirit. Having William by my side is also a great source of comfort and peace of mind. Just like love, the support and kindness that many of you have shown. “It means a lot to both of us,” he said.
“We hope you understand that as a family we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment,” she said. “My job has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I hope to return when I can, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
Kate’s absence from public view and the resulting media frenzy have fueled a public scrutiny of how the royal family balances its desire for privacy with transparency and accountability in the modern world.
Royal rumors spiked when a family photo of Kate and her children, posted to mark Mother’s Day in the UK and in an apparent attempt to put the rumors to rest, was removed by photo agencies because it had been digitally altered. .
As the uproar grew, Kensington Palace said Kate herself had edited the photo and apologized “for any confusion.”
She was seen in a grainy video a week later, after being seen shopping with William in Windsor, in what royal experts said was likely a deliberate effort to end the saga.
But it later emerged that Britain’s data watchdog was investigating a report that members of staff at the hospital where she was operated on had attempted to access her medical records.
Kate regularly appears in polls as one of the most popular members of the royal family.
The former Kate Middleton grew up in Berkshire, a prosperous county west of London. She was raised by entrepreneurial parents and attended the exclusive Marlborough College. Kate then studied art history at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she met William in 2001.
Their relationship came to public attention when they were photographed together while skiing in Switzerland and, despite briefly separating, the couple married in 2011.