KATE ASKS FOR PRIVACY AS SHE SHARES CANCER DIAGNOSIS

The Princess of Wales gives a message of hope and gratitude as she takes time with family during her treatment for cancer

- REBECCA RUSSELL

The Princess of Wales has reassured the nation that she will “be OK” after bravely sharing that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

During an emotional video message broadcast on Friday 22 March, the princess, 42, revealed she has started undergoing “preventative chemotherapy”, and said it has come as a “huge shock”.

Sitting on a bench surrounded by daffodils in the spring sunshine, Kate began her message saying, “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.”

Then, with her voice breaking with emotion, Kate continued, “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.”