Princess Kate has been diagnosed with cancer following her abdominal surgery. The wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, is receiving chemotherapy, as she says in a video message. That was of course a big shock, said the 42-year-old. There had previously been speculation about her health for weeks.
According to her own words, the princess wanted to explain her illness to her children first. Not only did it take time to recover from the operation before treatment could begin. “Most importantly, we needed time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that was appropriate for them and to reassure them that I would be fine,” Kate said in the video message.
The daughter-in-law of King Charles III, who is also being treated for cancer, has not attended public appointments for a long time. According to the palace, Kate underwent abdominal surgery in mid-January. No diagnosis was given; at the time it was simply said that it was not cancer.
Speculation after Mother’s Day photo
Since then, a number of speculations and conspiracy stories about her condition have spread online. A few days ago, the Mirror newspaper reported that up to three employees of the private clinic where Kate was treated tried to view her medical records. The hospital announced an investigation.
Kensington Palace also published a picture of Kate with her three children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8) and Prince Louis (5) for Mother’s Day. However, the photo was later withdrawn by several news agencies due to allegations of image manipulation.
Like many amateur photographers, she had “occasionally experimented with image editing” and apologized for any confusion, Kensington Palace said on her behalf. This did not stop the speculation.
Prime Minister Sunak: Kate has support from the whole country
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assures the sick princess of the support of the entire country. “She has shown enormous courage with her announcement today,” Sunak said in a statement. “I know I speak for the entire country when I wish her a speedy and full recovery, and I look forward to seeing her back in action when she is ready.”
The head of government criticizes the rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding the future queen’s condition in recent weeks. Kate had been treated unfairly by some parts of the media and on social networks, said Sunak. The wife of heir to the throne Prince William is entitled to the same privacy in health matters as all other people.
The White House also expressed its condolences. Our thoughts are with Kate, her family and her friends, said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre in Washington. “And of course we wish her a full recovery.” It is now particularly important to respect their privacy, Jean-Pierre continued.
Princess Catherine, who was formerly called Kate Middleton and has been married to Prince William since 2011, is considered a very popular member of the British royal family in Great Britain.
