Kate Middleton’s health status has been a mystery for months since her surgery in January. Updates from Kensington Palace have been limited, with only Prince William sharing minor details during royal duties.
Last Friday, Kate confirmed her cancer diagnosis, although specific details remain private. The family spent Easter together at Anmer Hall, and Queen Camilla, who has experience dealing with media scrutiny, broke her silence on Kate’s condition.
Kate’s announcement shocked the world when it was shared on social media channels a week before Easter.
Kate Middleton – cancer diagnosis announcement video
Kate Middleton shares heartfelt announcement about her cancer diagnosis in a video from Windsor’s garden bench. Despite the seriousness of the news, Kate assures her supporters, much like she does with her children, that she will be alright.
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.
“We now need some time, space, and privacy”
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.
Kate Middleton was stunned by the news, which was also a big surprise for her family. It’s hard to imagine how Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis reacted to the news. Their children, aged ten, eight, and five, are Prince William and Kate Middleton’s main concern and always will be.
With the Princess of Wales starting chemotherapy, they want to shield their children as much as possible. That’s why the timing of the cancer announcement video, released at 6 pm GMT, was intentional.
Exactly when George, Charlotte, and Louis were notified about their mother’s cancer diagnosis is unclear.
How Kate Middleton informed her children about her cancer
However, according to the Sunday Times, the cancer announcement video was released just a few hours after their children’s school had closed so that they wouldn’t immediately face questions about it from their friends. At that point, they had gotten the news.
“George is ten now and can’t be shielded from any of this now,” a palace source told the Times. “Once it’s at the school gate and in the school playground, he won’t be able to avoid it.”
So, how do you tell your children that you have cancer? One person, King Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold, argues that Prince William and Kate Middleton explained it differently to them.
Speaking with The Post, Harrold, who worked for Charles for seven years when he was the Prince of Wales, said that the couple most likely “sugarcoated” her health issues when they broke the news to Prince Louis.
“I’m sure it was a very difficult and very different conversation between children,” Grant Harrold told the NY Post. “For instance, for Louis, I’m sure the conversation was more sugarcoated than it was with George and Charlotte.”
The former butler added, “The older kids probably understood more, so the talk was likely more direct but still positive, which is really important.”
“That’s why when you see the photo of Kate with her three kids now, it’s so moving. Having that conversation as a mother is a big deal, and you can imagine Charlotte and George will be good sources of support for her.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton opt for country life at their countryside home
Additionally, Harrold mentioned that since Louis is only five, it’s likely that he “doesn’t understand much” about his mother’s cancer diagnosis. “It’s a tough situation. I’m sure the kids will handle it as any kids would, but I think their parents are good at staying calm, and I think that will help the kids,” he told the NY Post.
With the royal children not returning to school until April 17, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose to go to Anmer Hall to spend quality time together. Also, since it’s close to Sandringham House, where King Charles has been recovering after his cancer treatments, it’s not surprising that the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have recently seen the king and Queen Camilla.
Queen Camilla has taken on a massive responsibility following King Charles’ cancer treatment, growing into a vital part of the royal family.
It has taken her many years to be accepted by the public, and these days, she is being praised for the way she has handled the very challenging situation with Charles’ cancer and all that comes with it.
Some weeks ago, royal expert Angela Levin claimed that Queen Camilla is “holding the royal family up.”
Queen Camilla praised for taking on crucial role
“I mean, to wait till you’re 73 is a long time before you can take the crown. I think obviously, at his age, it’s very difficult, but he’s very determined, and he’s only really just started to be king,” Levin said while appearing on GB News. “Supporting him very much, absolutely by his side, is Queen Camilla, who is going to all the engagements that they would have gone to together on her own.”
“And so that way he will feel it’s still moving, it’s still running, and they can discuss it and talk about it. And I think that’s marvelous. I mean, she is holding the Royal Family up and being strong. If you imagine 30 years ago, people were saying the whole Royal Family would absolutely disintegrate, and she would be of no use.”
Levin added that Camilla has revealed she doesn’t like the spotlight. However, she’s become very “accessible” and makes people laugh when meeting members of the public.
“To support her husband. She understands him very well because they’ve been together for over 50 years, before they even got married. it’s a long time and they make each other laugh,” Angela Levin added while appearing on GB News.
Kate MIddleton received massive criticism after she posted her Mother’s Day photo on social media, which turned out to have been manipulated. News agencies pulled the picture from their website, and conspiracy theories surrounding Kate grew.
The cancer diagnosis announcement video
The video announcing her cancer diagnosis made it clear why she had been silent. Yet, some believe that sharing a doctored photo of herself and her kids was already a misstep.
As Kate Middleton became the subject of much scrutiny after the Mother’s Day picture, Camilla became a crucial support source for the Princess of Wales.
Queen Camilla’s ‘important’ support for Kate Middleton
In an interview with Today, The Telegraph’s associate editor, Camilla Tominey, claimed that the queen “has been trying to help [Catherine] through the media storm aspect in all of this.”
Tominey said, “I think before [Catherine] made the announcement because she was having to cope with the fallout of everything that was said about the Mother’s Day photo and everything else, I think Camilla lent some support.”
“Because let’s be honest, [Camilla] knows what it’s like to have a difficult press. She knows what it’s like to shepherd children through a media storm,” she added.
In February, Prince William made some shorter comments about his wife’s health status. Still, the royal family members have kept very quiet about both Kate and King Charles when getting questions about them in public. However, just days ago, Queen Camilla finally spoke about Kate.
As King Charles canceled several royal duties due to his cancer treatments, Camilla stepped up and took someone herself.
Last week, just before Easter, the queen visited Shrewsbury, where she met many royal fans at a farmer’s market.
Queen Camilla breaks silence on Kate Middleton
There, Camilla, for the first time, spoke about Kate after the cancer diagnosis announcement – when two young girls gave the queen a sign.
It read, “Send our love to Kate,” and was decorated with both hearts and stars, as well as other cute drawings.
Queen Camilla, of course, stayed when she saw the sign.
According to royal expert Rebecca English, she told the young girls, “I know that Catherine is thrilled by all the kind wishes and support.”
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