The Princess of Wales, Catherine, declares she is receiving cancer treatment.
In a video statement made public by Kensington Palace on Friday, Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed that she has cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
The 42-year-old former Kate Middleton stated in the video that receiving the diagnosis was a "huge shock after an incredibly tough couple of months."
Testing was conducted following her successful major abdominal surgery in January, when the cancer was discovered, according to Kate. She did not say what kind of cancer it was or at what stage.
She expressed gratitude to the public for their recent outpouring of support, but said that she and her family "now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment."
After Kate essentially vanished from the public eye in late December, there have been rumors about her health and well-being.
Kensington Palace declared on January 17 that Kate was on the mend following an anticipated stomach operation. The princess "is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter," the palace stated on March 31. Nevertheless, online conspiracy rumors regarding the princess were stoked by her brief absence.
It's the latest setback in a string of unfortunate events for the royal family. King Charles III, 75, received a cancer diagnosis, the palace announced last month.
Prior to Friday, Kate's most recent news surfaced earlier this month when a picture of her with her kids, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George, was published on Mother's Day in the United Kingdom and attributed to her husband, Prince William. When it was later discovered that the photo had been altered, Kate accepted responsibility for the shoddy retouching.
After weeks of heavy media coverage and examination, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in a statement that the princess had displayed "tremendous bravery."
"The Princess of Wales has the love and support of the whole country as she continues her recovery," he stated.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wished for Kate's full recovery at the start of her media briefing shortly after the news emerged.
"We are incredibly sad to hear of the news," she stated. "We want to make sure that we certainly respect their privacy at this incredibly difficult time."
