Kate Middleton has received an outpouring of support from famous faces after sharing her cancer diagnosis.
The Princess of Wales announced on Friday that she has been diagnosed with cancer aged 42 and is undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.
In an emotional video message, filmed at Windsor on Wednesday, Catherine revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’ and that she and William ‘have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.
It came days after she was seen smiling with Prince William as they left their favourite farm shop close to their Windsor home , and she said her husband had been ‘a great source of comfort and reassurance’ during her cancer fight.
Following the announcement, celebrities shared heartfelt messages on social media and slammed the speculation regarding Kate’s whereabouts.
Amanda Holden posted on Instagram: ‘Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery and pray this announcement satisfies the bloody thirsty mob who really need to shut up and leave her alone’.
Kate Middleton has received an outpouring of support from famous faces after sharing her cancer diagnosis
Following the announcement, celebrities – including Amanda Holden – shared heartfelt messages on social media and slammed the speculation regarding Kate’s whereabouts
Daytime TV presenter Lorraine Kelly shared on social media platform X: ‘Sending love – brave woman. Shame on all of the trolls who were vile to her’.
Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones also sent well-wishes to the Princess of Wales.
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden resonated with Kate, penning: ‘The news has hit me personally pretty hard. Thinking of our Princess’.
Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer last May and underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy. While she will not get the all-clear for five years and will still need treatment, her latest health check revealed ‘no evidence of disease’.
Shirley Ballas wrote: ‘Thinking of our Princess. Her family and all those affected by this disease this evening. Hugs to those who need them.’
Elsewhere, addressing the breaking news on The One Show, hosts Clara Amfo and Roman Kemp began with: ‘Like everyone, we’re still taking in the news about the Princess of Wales, which she’s announced so powerfully and personally in her own words.’
Roman added: ‘Our thoughts are very much with the Princess and the rest of her family, and we wish her well for her recovery.’
Kate announced that she has been diagnosed with cancer aged 42 and is undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.
Speaking from a bench surrounded by daffodils and spring blossom, the future queen said: ‘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.’
Catherine’s cancer was discovered only after she underwent major abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January. Kensington Palace has said it will not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and has asked people not to speculate.
Amanda posted on Instagram: ‘Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery and pray this announcement satisfies the bloody thirsty mob who really need to shut up and leave her alone’
Daytime TV presenter Lorraine Kelly shared on social media platform X: ‘Sending love – brave woman. Shame on all of the trolls who were vile to her’
The King – who is also currently undergoing cancer treatment himself – and the Queen were both been informed of the news. In a statement tonight His Majesty said he is ‘so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did’ and remains in the ‘closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law’. The King and Queen said they ‘will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time’.
It is not known if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were told in advance of the 6pm announcement. Harry, who once described Kate as the ‘big sister I never had’ and fondly called her ‘Cath’, is estranged from his brother and sister-in-law. It remains to be seen whether he will fly back to the UK to see her.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the Princess of Wales has ‘the love and support of the whole country’ as her cancer battle was revealed this evening and good wishes came in from around the globe, including from the White House where Joe Biden is ‘incredibly sad to hear of the news’. Her bravery at revealing her cancer to the world has also been praised.
At the time of her abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace said that it was non-cancerous. They have confirmed again tonight that is the case and that no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However post-operative tests subsequently found that cancer ‘had been present’.
This evening’s announcement will send shockwaves around the world and came after weeks of speculation – and wild conspiracy theories – about her health.
It also creates a fresh crisis for the British Royal Family at a time where King Charles is also battling cancer. In January Sarah, the Duchess of York , was diagnosed with skin cancer, just six months after being treated for breast cancer.
The princess is now on what has been described as a ‘recovery pathway’ having commenced a course of chemotherapy in late February.
It is for this reason that Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece .
Kensington Palace has strongly asked people not to speculate on what cancer she has.
However they say that she is in ‘good spirits and focused on her recovery’.
‘She is hugely grateful to the medical team for the care they are providing to her,’ a spokesman said. ‘She now needs time, space and privacy to complete her treatment and make a full recovery.’
It is understood that the announcement was made tonight not because of unpleasant social media speculation about her health and whereabouts – although that has been upsetting – but because her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte , eight, and Prince Louis, five, broke up from school today, which gave them the opportunity to take them away privately and protect them from the inevitable public shock.
In her video statement the Princess, dressed casually in a stripped Breton top and jeans, said: ‘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.
The Princess of Wales with her children in her Mother’s Day portrait, which now has added significance given her diagnosis
Catherine’s emotional and extraordinary words in her unprecedented video message
‘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.’
Even amidst her own personal anguish, there was a message for fellow cancer sufferers: ‘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.’
A source said this has been a ‘real shock’ for the couple and they have needed to take time to process the news personally and bring their young children to a place that they could ‘process this news about their mother’.
They have always wanted to shield them from the inevitable coverage her diagnosis will cause.
However she does have a very positive approach to her recovery and a positive mindset moving forwards.
A spokesman for the princess said: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’
However her spokesman confirmed: ‘The Princess is now on a recovery pathway having commenced a course of preventative chemotherapy…in late February.’
The palace will not confirm how long her treatment is expected to last and has asked the media and public not to speculate.
This evening’s announcement will send shockwaves around the world and came after weeks of speculation – and wild conspiracy theories – about her health
It also said it would not confirm where her treatment would be taking place, a spokesman adding: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’
Asked when the princess was given the news by her doctors, a spokesman explained: ‘Once post-operative tests had been completed and results reviewed.’
They added: ‘The Princess wanted to share this information when she and The Prince felt it was right for them as a family. ‘
A source said it had been ‘an incredibly tough couple of months for the entire family’ and it had been important for the princess to come to terms with her diagnosis, to recover form her surgery and begin her pathway to recovery.
Throughout this period the couple’s children have been her priority.
It is understood that William and Kate wanted to tell their children at a time that was right for them and to allow them to understand and process the news before it became public.
With the children having broken up from Lambrook School today for the Easter holidays this afternoon, they decided that now was the right time to share the statement.
Sources say their concern recently, despite global and social media speculation, was to put Catherine’s health and their children first.
It is now hoped, aides said, the speculation around the princess comes to a stop.
Kate’s cancer battle in her own words: The Princess of Wales’ emotional video 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.
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