Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed her cancer diagnosis early this afternoon in an emotional personal video shared on social media. The announcement comes after the royal stepped away from public duties following an abdominal surgery at the start of the year, and she explains in the clip that cancer was found after the operation.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous,” she says. “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.”
In the clip, Princess Kate assures viewers she is trying to work through this difficult time in good spirits. “I am well, and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body, and spirits,” she says.
Of course, this would be no easy journey for anyone. “I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer,” she adds. “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
In the video, filmed Wednesday, Princess Kate asks for “time, space, and privacy” while she undergoes treatment and takes time to be with her husband, Prince William, and their three kids: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
A palace insider tells Bazaar that Princess Kate is “in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.” The source adds, “The princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team.”
