Insights on the Cancer Diagnosis of the Princess of Wales

Catherine, Princess of Wales, shared in a video message that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently in the "early stages" of treatment.

She mentioned that the diagnosis came after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. Initially, her condition was believed to be non-cancerous, but further tests revealed the presence of cancer.

Kate, who is 42 years old, has been out of the spotlight since her surgery in January, leading to a lot of rumors about her health.

The surprising news about her diagnosis comes after King Charles III was also diagnosed with cancer after having surgery for an enlarged prostate.

Here’s what we know.

What did Kate say?

Kate shared a video on Friday afternoon to give an update on her health. It has been two months since she took a break from public life following her first treatment.

"In January, I had a major abdominal surgery in London. Initially, it was believed that my condition was not cancerous," Kate revealed. She is married to Prince William, who is next in line to the British throne.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, England on October 11, 2023. The purpose of her visit is to learn about the mental health support system in place at the university. The Prince and Princess of Wales are currently attending various engagements throughout the UK to commemorate World Mental Health Day and emphasize the significance of mental wellbeing, especially among young individuals.

Catherine, Princess of visits Nottingham Trent University to learn about their mental health support system on October 11, 2023 in Nottingham, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales are carrying out engagements across the UK to mark World Mental Health Day and to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, particularly in young people.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

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The surgery went well, but further tests revealed the presence of cancer. As a result, my doctors recommended a preventive chemotherapy treatment, which I have just started.

Upon receiving the diagnosis, it came as a big surprise to me. My husband, William, and I have been dealing with this news privately, trying our best to handle it for the sake of our children.

Kate and William have three children: Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.

A royal source shared with CNN that Kate started chemotherapy at the end of February. They waited until now to share her condition because Friday marked the start of their children's Easter school break.

"It has taken me some time to recover from a major surgery before I could begin my treatment. But, more importantly, we took the time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that they could understand, and reassure them that I will be okay," she shared in the video message.

Kate did not disclose the specific type of cancer she had been diagnosed with.

Preventative chemotherapy is commonly given after surgery to help lower the risk of cancer coming back, according to Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, as reported by CNN.

The source mentioned that although she was initially set to resume her official duties after Easter, she will now wait for approval from her medical team before doing so.

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Dr. Gupta describes what stands out to him about Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis

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King Charles expressed his pride in Catherine, his daughter-in-law, for her bravery in openly discussing her cancer diagnosis. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace shared this sentiment late Friday.

Charles shared that he has been staying in touch with Kate closely since they both were treated at the same London hospital. He mentioned that he and Queen Camilla will keep offering their love and support to the entire family during this challenging period.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised Kate for her courage in making the statement. He also expressed his opinion that she had been treated unfairly during the intense scrutiny from the press and social media in the past few weeks.

The Biden administration expressed sadness upon hearing the news and sent well wishes for her full recovery.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, also extended their wishes for Kate's health and healing, hoping that she and her family can find privacy and peace during this time.

When was Kate first hospitalized?

Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that the princess would spend two weeks recovering in hospital after successfully undergoing planned abdominal surgery.

It wasn't clear why Kate had surgery, but the palace mentioned that she wouldn't be back to work until after Easter, which is on March 31 this year.

Kate left the London Clinic, a private hospital near Regent’s Park in the heart of London, on January 29. She went back home to Windsor, located west of London, to recover.

After leaving the hospital, Kate continued her recovery at home.

Despite the palace confirming in January the timeline of Princess Kate's recovery, there was still a lot of gossip about her health and where she was. The palace reminded the public that they should not expect to see her until after Easter.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visited Daystar Evangelical Church in Great Abaco, Bahamas on March 26, 2022. This island was severely affected by Hurricane Dorian, which caused extensive damage to 75% of homes and tragically resulted in loss of life. During their visit to the church, the royal couple will listen to firsthand accounts of the hurricane's impact on the island and how the community has come together to support each other during this challenging time.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are representing Her Majesty The Queen on a special tour to Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. This 8-day tour, taking place from Saturday 19th March to Saturday 26th March, marks their first official overseas visit together since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Kate made her first public appearance earlier this month when she was seen in Windsor wearing dark sunglasses. She was sitting in the front passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.

CNN and other major British media organizations chose not to publish the paparazzi shot. They carefully considered the balance between public interest in Kate's health and the importance of respecting privacy laws.

What about the Mother’s Day photograph?

Speculation about Kate’s health continued, putting pressure on the family to reveal more details.

Kate tried to dispel rumors by sharing a picture with her three kids on Mother's Day. However, instead of stopping the gossip, it actually made things worse as people quickly pointed out some inconsistencies in the photo.

Have you ever wondered why Charlotte's sleeve cuff was blurred in the photo? And why was her skirt at a strange angle? Then there's Kate, with her misaligned zipper and missing ring. And what about the children, why did they have their fingers crossed? Let's take a closer look at these interesting details in the picture.

Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace/AP

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Multiple global news agencies recalled the image from circulation hours later, citing manipulation concerns.

After engaging in some amateur detective work for the day, Kate confessed to altering the photograph and offered her apologies.

The following day, Kate took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to explain, "Similar to many amateur photographers, I sometimes like to play around with editing. I am sorry for any confusion that may have arisen from the family photo we posted yesterday."

She was later photographed alongside her husband in a car departing Windsor Castle.

Why is there an investigation involving the hospital?

The UK's data watchdog is currently looking into reports that a staff member at the London Clinic attempted to access Kate's private medical records. The Daily Mirror tabloid stated that the hospital has started an investigation into the claims of a breach in the princess's confidentiality.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent data regulator in the UK, stated that they have received a breach report and are currently assessing the information provided.

In response, The London Clinic announced on Wednesday that they will be taking all necessary investigatory, regulatory, and disciplinary actions.

Kate's medical privacy has been a cause for concern before. Back in 2012, when she was pregnant with her first child, an Australian radio station played a prank on the hospital where she was receiving care. They fooled a nurse into sharing private medical information, which was later broadcasted.

Reporting on this incident was done by CNN's Max Foster, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, and Niamh Kennedy.

Editor's P/S:

The news of Catherine, Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis has sent shockwaves through the world, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment. Her bravery in sharing her story has not only provided hope to others facing similar challenges but has also emphasized the crucial need for privacy and respect during such sensitive times.

It is vital to remember that Catherine and her family are going through a difficult journey, and they deserve our support and compassion. The investigation into the potential breach of her medical records is a reminder of the importance of protecting patient confidentiality, especially for high-profile individuals. We must continue to support Catherine's recovery and hope for the best possible outcome while respecting her family's privacy. Clinic is essential in ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to prevent such breaches in the future.