The Princess of Wales has announced to the public that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
Kate, the 42-year-old wife to Prince William, released a video message online, breaking her silence after weeks of speculation on her whereabouts, following a major abdominal surgery in a private London clinic in January.
In the video, she shared that at the time, doctors had assumed her condition was noncancerous and the surgery was successful. "However," she said, "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."
She said the news came as a "huge shock" and that she and Prince William had been doing everything to process it privately for the sake of their young family.
"It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis... and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”
"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."
It's not specified yet what type of cancer she has or at what stage it was found, and Kensington Palace, the couple’s royal household, has not said why the operation was necessary.
Kate's news comes just weeks after King Charles was revealed to be undergoing prostate cancer treatment earlier in the year.
“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."
Buckingham Palace said King Charles was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did" and remains in the "closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law".
