London: Catherine, Princess of Wales, has said she is “overwhelmed” by the support she has received from around the world following her shock announcement that she is being treated for cancer.
A candid revelation leaves the British monarchy in crisis when King Charles III. he revealed just weeks ago that he had also been battling cancer.
Charles – who was just 17 months into his reign when Buckingham Palace announced in February it would cancel all public engagements – paid tribute to his “beloved daughter-in-law”.
“The world may now appreciate why there was so much mystery surrounding her operation in January,” he added.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, whose younger brother died of cancer last year, told Sky News on Sunday that “what really broke my heart was when she explained the hardest thing of all to people who had cancer in the family. how do you tell your kids.”
Kate, as the princess is widely known, said in a statement that the diagnosis was a “huge shock” and asked for “time, space and privacy” while she undergoes chemotherapy.
In the video – filmed on Wednesday in Windsor, west of London, where the future queen and king live with their three young children – she insisted she was “fine”.
She said it took them a while to explain the situation to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, “and reassure them that I will be fine”.
Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 that tests revealed Charles had “some form of cancer”, without giving further details.
He has canceled all public meetings except for audiences with the prime minister and ambassadors and is working on official documents while undergoing treatment.
Since then, he has been photographed several times and seen going to church.
Kate was last seen publicly engaged on December 25.
Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that she would face up to two weeks in hospital and several months recovering from abdominal surgery.
She was not expected to be ready to return to public duties until after Easter on March 31, a statement said at the time.
But Kate revealed that post-surgery tests “detected the presence of cancer” and that she is now undergoing “preventive chemotherapy”.
Kensington Palace said he would return to official duties “once cleared by his medical team”.
