The Princess of Wales has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is now in the early stages of undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment in an emotional video message announcement released tonight
A cheeky joke made by Prince William as he returned to royal duties was actually a massive hint at his wife Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
While attending a charity gala at the London Air Ambulance in his first return to royal duties since his wife’s adbdominal surgery, the heir to the throne gave a speech in which he thanked the nation for their support over the royals’ health worries.
And in a bid to lighten the mood after a testing few weeks, William made a quip about how he chose to attend the gala “to get away from it all”.
He said: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all! But, seriously, we gather tonight to help as many people as possible benefit from top-class care in the silhouette of London Air Ambulance’s flying lifelines.
“As a former pilot for East Anglia Air Ambulance, I know just how vital the work of air ambulance teams across the country is, and the truly life-saving difference it can make to deliver urgent medical care wherever injury strikes can make.” It came after he said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all.”
His comments have added meaning now since his wife Princess Kate announced she has been diagnosed with cancer.
The Princess of Wales is being treated for cancer, she announced yesterday in a video message.
The future queen is currently undergoing a course of chemotherapy that started in February, Kensington Palace announced. Kate, 42, was admitted to hospital on January 16 for “major abdominal surgery”, which has been confirmed as successful. At the time of her operation it was thought that her condition was non-cancerous, as no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However, post-operative tests confirmed that cancer had been present.
In an emotional and heartfelt televised statement to the world confirming her diagnosis, recorded in Windsor on Wednesday, Kate spoke of “an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family”. But in a sign of her incredible bravery, the princess issued a message of hope for those also facing their own battle, saying: “ For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
William looked relaxed at the gala event for London’s Air Ambulance Charity of which he has been patron since 2020 as he mixed staff and supporters, even grabbing a photo with movie icon Cruise. The event was held in support of the charity’s largest-ever fundraising campaign.
Despite William’s return to work today, royal sources said he remained focused on his family and the extra duties he will be expected to fulfil in his father’s absence. The King went straight to Sandringham in Norfolk to continue his recovery, after waving to well-wishers as he was driven to Buckingham Palace to board a waiting helicopter yesterday.
It is understood William is likely to undertake some duties on behalf of the King in addition to his own diary of engagements, and as a future king and the senior royal in the line of succession he would be expected to shoulder most of the responsibility.
Forthcoming events that could see William playing a key role include the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey at the start of March and the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June. William, who is in regular contact with the King, is said to have grown closer to Charles in the wake of Harry’s controversial interviews, documentary and memoir, which saw him launch a flurry of allegations at his family. It is not yet known whether William will meet his brother during his trip to London, with their long-running rift ongoing.
