Kate Middleton Diagnosed With Cancer

Kate Middleton has broken her silence and revealed she is battling cancer following heightened media scrutiny and a flurry of conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts while recovering from abdominal surgery earlier this year.

“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,” the Princess of Wales said in a video update on her health released on Friday afternoon to X (below).

She added that, on medical advice, she had begun a course of preventative chemotherapy treatment. She is now in the early stages of that treatment.

“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,” Middleton said in the video. “As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken us time for me 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’s appropriate for them and to reassure them I’m going to be okay.”

Middleton added in the video: “As I have said to them, I am well. I’m getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as has the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”

Middleton then asked for time and privacy to complete her cancer treatment.

“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy. And I look forward to being back when I move on. But for now I must focus on making a full recovery,” she said, ending her video with a message to anyone else battling cancer: “Please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

Kensington Palace will no doubt be hoping Middleton’s first words spoken in public will quell the speculation around the Princess of Wales.

Middleton has kept a low profile since Kensington Palace announced that the princess was discharged from the London Clinic on Jan. 29 and was doing well. As speculation ballooned, on Feb. 29, palace officials felt compelled to repeat that news on her health would come if there was anything significant to be said. 

There was a recent sighting of a healthy-looking Princess of Wales, walking with her husband, Prince William, near Windsor Castle. But the footage did little if anything to dampen speculation and conspiracy theories over her medical procedure and recovery, including after Kensington Palace released an altered image of Middleton with her family on the U.K.’s Mother’s Day.

Photo agencies quickly deemed the picture manipulated and it was yanked from four news wire services. In a rare occurrence, the princess issued a mea culpa for the altered image, which had undergone 17 edits.

The video release on Friday will be seen as an attempt by the Royals to take back control of coverage of Middleton’s health recovery from U.K. tabloid newspapers, U.S. publications and social media platforms.