William is so proud of Kate ..she's shown such courage

In awe as wife endures chemo fight

- DAN WARBURTON

PRINCE William is "extremely proud" of the strength shown by wife Kate since her cancer diagnosis, sources say.

The Prince of Wales, 41, is said to be in awe of 42-year-old Kate and the way she has coped since being admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery in January.

It has also emerged the Princess wrote the statement about her cancer diagnosis herself.

She is said to have insisted on a video message because she wanted to tell people her news "as compassionately as possible".

In the two-minute address to the nation, Kate surprised those closest to her with her decision to announce she has started a course of preventative chemotherapy.

Sources say she felt a written statement would be "too jarring".

Friends have also revealed Kate composed the announcement about her cancer treatment with no input from her advisers. It was part of a meticulous two-week plan to let the nation know about her health problems.

In the video, the Princess of Wales said the discovery was a "huge shock" but that she is "going to be OK" as she underwent rounds of preventative chemo. She added: "I am well and getting stronger every day."

A friend said: "It was all her she wrote every word of it."

Kate is believed to have gone public with her cancer diagnosis to help protect her children from being questioned at school.

It is understood the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children will spend their four-week Easter school break at Anmer Hall, their home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, before William resumes public duties from mid-April.