Speaking in a bombshell video Kate has urged people to respect her family’s privacy as she undergoes chemotherapy, while also saying that her focus is now on ‘making a full recovery’
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Kate Middleton confirms she has cancer and has started chemotherapy
The Princess of Wales has revealed that she is being treated for cancer – but here are the subtle details that you could miss from her heartbreaking video message.
Speculation has been rife about the Kate’s health with wild rumours circulating on social media after she underwent abdominal surgery in January. She was not seen in public since last Christmas and Kensington Palace has said that she would not return to royal duties until Easter. But the gossip was fuelled by Kate’s admission she had edited a photo of her and her children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – released for Mother’s Day.
And then a video of her visiting Windsor Farm Shop last weekend with Prince William led to more talk on social media. And now in a video Kate has told how cancer was found following the operation that was initially considered to be a success. She has urged people to respect her family’s privacy as she undergoes chemotherapy, while also saying that her focus is now on “making a full recovery”.
She stated: “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.” Here are also some subtle details from the video which could be designed as a response to some of the rumours.
Cherry blossom and daffodils
The video address was shot on a bench in a garden, with cherry blossom and daffodils – seasonal flowers that only appear at this time of year – in the background. It’s possible shooting the video in this setting was a way to head off potential conspiracy theories about when it was recorded.
Her engagement ring was prominent
A talking point around the now infamous Mother’s Day photo was that the Princess of Wales did not appear to be wearing her wedding and engagement rings, the latter of which is iconic and very visible owing to the large sapphire set in it. She said after the furore about the picture that she had edited it herself which may explain the absence of the ring if an old picture was used to cover any signs of her treatment.
However in the video address on Friday (March 22), her engagement ring was front and centre, displayed clearly on her left hand, often laying over the top of her right hand, with her wedding ring tucked underneath it. Again. this may be to dampen conspiracy theories about her and Prince William’s relationship following the Mother’s Day photo speculation.
‘Cancer had been present’
Kate appears to have been saying that while cancer was present before she underwent abdominal surgery it is not confirmed that she still has cancer now. The chemotherapy she is now going through has been described as ‘preventative’ suggesting it’s not because cancer has been confirmed as still present.
It’s still unclear exactly what her abdominal surgery entailed. If the cancer was identified beforehand, surgeons will sometimes perform a partial gastrectomy, which removes part of the stomach to effectively cut out the cancerous part. However Kate said tests after the surgery confirmed cancer had been present beforehand, so it is not known if any of Kate’s stomach was removed as it was not confirmed at that stage she had cancer. However she did describe the procedure as ‘major’ abdominal surgery.
