Summary

  • The Princess of Wales says she is in the early stages of cancer treatment

  • In a video message, she says the news came as a “huge shock” and her family had experienced “an incredibly tough couple of months”

  • Catherine, 42, says it has taken time to “explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis … and to reassure them that I am going to be OK”

  • “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance,” she says as she thanks well-wishers

  • She says her major abdominal surgery in January was successful. Tests later found cancer had been present

  • King Charles, who himself is being treated for cancer, says he is "so proud" of his "beloved" daughter-in-law's courage

  • Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says Kate has shown "tremendous bravery" and has the "love and support of the whole country"

Live Reporting

Edited by Jasmine Taylor-Coleman, Dulcie Lee and Andrew Humphrey

  1. Starmer 'heartened' by Kate's message of faith and hope

    Labour leader Keir Starmer during the Labour Party's Ukrainian Welcome Reception at his party's offices in LondonPA Media

    Labour leader Keir Starmer says the Princess of Wales has "the love and support of not just her whole family, but the whole nation too" during this "distressing time".

    In a statement, he says "any cancer diagnosis is shocking" but he can "only imagine the added stress of receiving that news amid the lurid speculation we've seen in recent weeks".

    He says he was "heartened" by Catherine's "optimistic tone and her message of faith and hope".

    Her Royal Highness will be in our thoughts and prayers as she progresses through her treatment with the love and support of not just her whole family, but the whole nation too."

  2. Chemotherapy will target any remaining cancer cells and ensure it does not return

    Fergus Walsh
    Medical editor

    As we've just heard from the statement released by the palace, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is now undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy that began late last month.

    Chemotherapy is an umbrella term for any drug treatment to kill cancer. Now, this can be used to mop up any remaining cancer cells, or to ensure that a cancer doesn’t return in the future.

    The drug treatment can be given as an infusion, or as tablets, sometimes taken daily, but overall treatment of cancer has really transformed in recent years.

    In terms of the future, Catherine is stressing she is getting on well.

    It's worth remembering that cancer touches the life of every family. One in two of us will get it. It is, of course, more common the older we get, but thousands of people are diagnosed every year.

    Three million people in the UK are living with cancer, with nearly 400,000 cancer cases diagnosed in the UK each year – that works out to more than 1,000 every day.

    I won't speculate about her condition, but it's worth noting that at the end of her address, she urged others affected by cancer not to lose faith or hope.

  3. You are not alone, Kate tells others facing cancer

    In the video statement released a short time ago, Catherine ends her two-minute message by saying she is thinking of all those who have been affected by cancer.

    "For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope,” she says.

    “You are not alone.”

    You can watch her message in full below:

    Full video message from Catherine, the Princess of Wales

  4. Catherine has shown 'tremendous bravery', says Sunak

    Rishi Sunak in Downing StreetEPA

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the princess has shown "tremendous bravery" and his thoughts are with the Royal Family, "in particular her three children at this difficult time".

    In a statement shared on X, Sunak says she "has the love and support of the whole country as she continues her recovery".

    "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 adds.

    When it comes to matters of health, like everyone else, she must be afforded the privacy to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family.

    I know I speak for the whole country in wishing her a full and speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her back in action when she's ready."

  5. Details of cancer not disclosed by palace

    Separately to the video message, Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales started a course of preventative chemotherapy in late February.

    The palace has not disclosed details of the cancer, and says it will not be sharing any further private medical information on her health.

    It reiterates that the princess “has a right to medical privacy, as we all do”.

    The palace says Catherine is now on a "recovery pathway having commenced a course of preventative chemotherapy".

    Asked when the chemotherapy will end, the palace says this is subject to medical advice and it will not be commenting further.

  6. William is a great source of comfort, says Catherine

    The Princess of Wales thanks her husband, the Prince of Wales, in the video, 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."

    Catherine asks for "time, space and privacy" while she completes her 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.”

    You can read her full statement here

  7. 'It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis'

    In the video message, which you can watch in the previous post, Catherine says it has taken time to "explain everything" to her three children.

    She says: "It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.

    “But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.

    “As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits."

  8. The full video message from Catherine

  9. Catherine says cancer news was a ‘huge shock’ in video message

    The Princess of Wales has announced she is undergoing cancer treatment in a video message.

    In the video, she says it was a “huge shock” and the family had experienced an “incredibly tough couple of months”.

    Details of the cancer have not been disclosed, but Kensington Palace says it is confident the princess will make a full recovery.

    She says it has taken time to explain everything to her children and having her husband, the Prince of Wales, by her side is a “great source of comfort”.

    The news comes several weeks after Buckingham Palace confirmed the King had been diagnosed with cancer.

    Catherine is married to the Prince of Wales, who is the heir to the throne.

  10. Princess of Wales says she is undergoing cancer treatment
    Breaking

    The Princess of Wales says she is in the early stages of cancer treatment in a video message released this evening.