‘We love you’: Warm wishes for Kate after cancer disclosure
LOS ANGELES—Warm wishes flooded in from around the world after Catherine, Princess of Wales, disclosed on Friday that she was being treated for cancer.
The wife of Britain’s heir to the throne, William, had been the topic of fevered speculation over her condition, fueled by silence from the palace and a botched family snap that the princess later admitted editing.But her bombshell video announcement appeared to have brought a halt to the gossip and evoked expressions of sympathy from family near and far, world leaders and public figures.“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” said Harry and Meghan, the duke and duchess of Sussex.
The couple, who live in California, have had a strained relationship with the British royal family since leaving the United Kingdom, repeatedly lashing out at the institution.
Kate’s brother James Middleton took to social media to share a photograph of the siblings as children.
“Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together,” he wrote. “As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak called for privacy for the princess so she can focus on her health.“She has shown tremendous bravery with her statement today. In recent weeks she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media,” Sunak said.
US President Joe Biden said in a post on X: “Jill and I join millions around the world in praying for your full recovery, Princess Kate.”
The US first lady had posted her own well-wishes earlier: “You are brave, and we love you.”French President Emmanuel Macron said he and his wife, Brigitte, wish Catherine “a complete recovery.”
“Your strength and your resilience inspire us all,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “My thoughts are with the Princess of Wales, her children, and the entire Royal Family following the news of her cancer so courageously shared.”
‘Time, space and privacy’
Kate, as she is widely known, said the cancer was discovered after a successful abdominal surgery in January.
The diagnosis was “a huge shock” to her family, but she was “well and getting stronger every day,” she said in her video filmed on Wednesday at Windsor, west of London.Kate said her medical team had “advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Preventative chemotherapy is given “after an operation to prevent recurrence,” said Shivan Sivakumar, associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham in central England.
“This is to attempt to destroy any circulating cancer cells,” he said.The 42-year-old princess said she needs “time, space and privacy” as she completes her treatment.
King Charles, Britain’s head of state, who recently revealed his own battle with cancer, said he is “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”
A statement from Buckingham Palace said he “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.”Like Charles, Kate did not disclose the exact nature of her cancer.But she described the months since she went into hospital as “incredibly tough.”Speculation and rumors
She said it had taken her time to explain the situation to her three children with William—Prince George, age 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and 5-year-old Prince Louis—“and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
Palace officials will be hoping that the unusually candid disclosure will end speculation and rumors, particularly online, about her health and whereabouts.Kate was last seen at a public engagement on Dec. 25, 2023, when she joined the king and other senior royals at a Christmas Day church service.
On Jan. 7, Kensington Palace announced that she was facing up to two weeks in hospital and several months’ recuperation following abdominal surgery.
She was not expected to be ready to return to public duties until after Easter on March 31, a statement at the time said.
Kensington Palace sought to end mounting questions about Kate, releasing a Mother’s Day photograph said to have been taken by William.
But the plan backfired after it was later found to have been digitally altered and saw leading news agencies, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), pull the image.
Earlier this week, British media published new images of the princess walking with William at a farmers’ market near their Windsor home.
There were also claims that an attempt may have been made to access Kate’s confidential medical records, prompting a referral to the UK data protection watchdog.
“I think it’s very, very good that they’re open about showing that they’re not afraid to hide it,” Hannah Dickerson, visiting London from the United States, told AFP.
“I think it’s important to know that they’re human just like us,” she said. —AFP
