Princess Kate of Wales Announces She Has Cancer

The Princess of Wales, Kate, confirmed on Friday that she is battling cancer and currently undergoing chemotherapy. Speculation about her health had been circulating on social media due to her hospitalization in January for a previously undisclosed abdominal surgery and following absence from the public eye. The 42-year-old royal had not been seen in public since Christmas until a video was released this week showing her with Prince William, her husband and heir to the British throne, near their Windsor home.

Royal officials at Kensington Palace had not previously disclosed specifics of the princess’s condition, claiming only that it was not cancer-related. Her successful surgery would limit her public duties until around April they had stated. This week, she drew attention when she released an edited photo on Mother’s Day surrounded by her children, which later had to be withdrawn by news agencies due to the manipulative aspects of the image.

This is not the first cancer shock to hit the royal family recently, with King Charles III announcing last month that he was being treated for an unspecified type of cancer, detected while undergoing a procedure related to a benign enlarged prostate. Unlike Kate, the 75-year-old king seemed to maintain his public profile during his treatment, appearing in photos meeting officials and even attending church services.

Involvement from the British privacy watchdog comes as alleged reports surface that staff at the private London hospital, where Kate underwent surgery, attempted to access her medical records. This, along with the recent video and manipulated photo edited by Kate, sparked further speculation and rumor-mongering over her health with some doubting the video’s authenticity.

Kate is viewed as a cornerstone of the British monarchy’s popularity worldwide, revitalizing its appeal similar to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Born and raised in Berkshire by non-aristocratic parents, she captured the public’s attention since her marriage to Prince William in 2011. The private girls’ school and University of St Andrews graduate has maintained her royal reputation since their relationship was confirmed during a skiing holiday in Switzerland in 2004.