For much of 2024, the Princess of Wales stepped back from royal duties while undergoing treatment. After completing chemotherapy, she later described the experience as an “incredibly tough” time.
When the Diagnosis Was First Revealed
Kate first went public with her diagnosis in a personal video message on March 22, 2024, weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. Before that, her absence from public life since Christmas Day 2023 had sparked widespread concern and speculation.
In her message, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her, saying: “I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.”
She explained that the surgery had initially been believed to address a non-cancerous condition: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful.
“However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Kate admitted the diagnosis came as a shock: “This of course came as a huge shock. And William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
She also highlighted the importance of supporting her children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — explaining: “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 okay.
“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.”
She concluded by asking for privacy: “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment… But for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
