Catherine, Princess of Wales, is staying strong as she recovers from cancer.
The royal revealed that she is now cancer-free in an emotional video statement on September 9.
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in a voiceover that played over at-home footage of herself, husband Prince William, and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant, and we’ve had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
She added that doing everything she can “to stay cancer-free is now my focus.”
Below, everything to know about Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis, her past few months of recovery, and her current health status.
Kate revealed her diagnosis in March.
The Princess of Wales revealed the news of her cancer diagnosis in a video statement on March 22, after undergoing planned abdominal surgery that winter. “It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who’ve taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” she began.
Kate explained that doctors initially believed her condition was noncancerous, and that while “the surgery was successful,” testing afterward found evidence of cancer.
See her full video statement here:
The video marked the first time Kate spoke publicly about her condition. In January, Kensington Palace told Harper’s Bazaar it would release information about the princess’s health only when necessary. In February, a source close to the situation informed Bazaar that Kate was in “good spirits” and “making good progress.”
What kind of cancer did Kate have?
The princess has not revealed what type of cancer she had, simply that it was found after she underwent abdominal surgery in January.
What cancer treatment did she receive?
Kate underwent preventative chemotherapy beginning in February, Bazaar learned.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The princess is now on a recovery pathway having commenced a course of preventative chemotherapy in late February.”
Kate explained in her video message that because doctors had found evidence of cancer cells in her body, after her surgery, her medical team “advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
What is preventative chemotherapy?
While chemotherapy is “a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body,” per the Mayo Clinic, Kate seems to be undergoing something called “chemoprevention,” which, according to the National Cancer Institute, is “the use of certain drugs or other substances to help lower a person’s risk of developing cancer or keep it from coming back.”
What has her condition been?
Kate said in March that while her diagnosis “came as a huge shock,” she and William and have been “doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I’m going to be okay,” she said.
All in all, however, Kate said she was doing okay.
“As I’ve said to [the children], 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.”
A palace source also told Bazaar in March that Kate “is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.” She will be back to work as soon as she’s able, they added. As for William, he “will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since the start of the year.”
In May, William told a well-wisher that Kate is “doing well,” all things considered.
On June 14, Kensington Palace released a new letter penned by Kate, who gave a rare glimpse into her chemotherapy treatment and recovery—though she still refrained from specifying what type of cancer she is battling.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired, and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well,” she wrote. “My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”
Where has she been?
While the princess has, understandably, been lying low and spending time at home with her family, she has been seen out several times with William and their kids in the months since her diagnosis. She also made an appearance at Trooping the Colour in June and at Wimbledon in July. Next, she is expected to make a special appearance with her family in November.
Will she be okay?
According to Kate, her medical team suggested chemotherapy treatment as a purely preventative measure, as the surgery to address the issue with her abdomen was successful.
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” Kate said this September 9.
