Future queen Kate, 42, is currently undergoing a course of chemotherapy that started in February, Kensington Palace announced
Kate Middleton and Prince William have been doing everything they can to shield their children amid Kate’s bombshell cancer scare.
Since the operation at the start of the year, Kensington Palace closed ranks, offering very little in the way of updates as to the princess’s condition. It has now been revealed that the primary reason for the secrecy was to protect their three children.
A close friend of the family said: “Kate and William have been doing everything they can to protect the children so they are not aware of everything that’s gone on. The children at school talk, so that has been their primary concern.”“
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The princess wanted to share this information when she and the prince felt it was right for them as a family.”
According to Palace aides, Kate’s televised address was scheduled to coincide with the start of the kids Easter school holidays, which started on Friday at 4pm. The princess’s video was released two hours later. The parents had planned to wait until that moment to break the news to the world so their kids could be shielded from the media coverage they undoubtedly knew would follow.
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.”
Sitting outside on a dark brown park bench, in front of a lush spring backdrop of daffodils, the mum-of-three described her plight as “a huge shock” and confirmed she had, together with her husband Prince William, 41, personally informed their three children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight and Prince Louis, five of her diagnosis – but told them: “I am going to be ok”.
Wearing a blue and white striped jumper and jeans Kate confirmed in her message that doctors told her cancer had been present in her body before advising her to undergo a course of “preventative chemotherapy”. The princess confirmed she is “now in the early stages of that treatment”.
Appearing incredibly stoic while delivering her devastating message, the princess praised her husband Prince William for his love and support, saying: “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.” Kate’s cancer diagnosis was the reason William missed the memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, last month.
