Courageous through cancer DIGNIFIED KATE'S BRAVE DECISION

The princess is still thinking of others as she faces her next challenge

- Judy Kean

It will go down as one of the most moving and courageous moments in royal history. Sitting on a park bench in the spring sunshine, in front of a backdrop of daffodils and blossom trees, the Princess of Wales calmly revealed she has cancer.

Having undergone major abdominal surgery, after which she began a course of chemotherapy, and following weeks of worry about her health and how to break the news to her children all while being the subject of vicious online rumours - Kate, 42, fronted up to the world in a two-minute video with grace and class.

Visibly emotional as she explained that tests showed "cancer had been present" following her surgery for a condition initially believed to be non-cancerous, the princess also took the time to consider other people coming to terms with the devastating diagnosis.

"For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope," she said. "You are not alone." It has not been revealed what type of cancer Kate has, but she has started preventive chemotherapy and says she's "well and getting stronger every day".

A friend confides that the princess "wrote every word herself" and royal experts say her message was "word perfect".

Simon Lewis, a former press secretary for the late Queen, describes Kate's message as "brave, powerful and dignified".

"A lot of preparation must have gone into what she wanted to say, which I think came across enormously authentically," he tells. "It's unprecedented - I can't think of another occasion where a member of the royal family has spoken about their health on camera."

Royal correspondents insist it must have taken enormous courage for Kate who's known to be nervous about speaking publicly and on camera to record the message.

"She was so raw - this was very, very personal," says royal biographer Ingrid Seward. "You could see that she was emotional and I think it was very brave."