Kate Middleton reveals cancer diagnosis
On Mar. 22, 2024, it was shared with the world through a short video that 42-year-old, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing preventative early treatment.
This update comes after a period of concern as Middleton stepped away from the public eye for two months to recover from an extensive abdominal surgery she received on Jan. 16, 2024, for a condition that was believed to be non-cancerous. The surgery was successful, but multiple tests afterward revealed that cancer was in fact present; thus, she began undergoing preventative chemotherapy, also known as adjuvant chemotherapy. Healthline.com states that adjuvant chemotherapy is “additional treatment postoperatively [that] improves the disease-free survival, overall survival, and to reduce the risk of recurrent disease in the future.”
During her video message to the public, Middleton sat alone on a bench where she spoke positively about her experience and recent diagnosis. With Middleton being married to William, Prince of Wales, and a part of the royal family, she is constantly in the public eye throughout the world. Therefore, many individuals were concerned about her whereabouts for the past number of months. Yet, Middleton ensured her supporters that those months were taken to heal and take care of her family. Middleton states in her two-minute video, “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.”
Following her statement, there was a substantial amount of support for Middleton from fans and other celebrities. William’s brother, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the former Duchess of Sussex, issued a statement hoping for “health and healing for Kate and the family.” This statement was accompanied by one from Middleton’s younger brother, James, who posted a photo of the two online, stating, “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”
Evidently, before the video was published, it appears that Middleton wanted to keep her diagnoses and the information she received as private from the public as possible. Due to this privacy, there were many theories about where Middleton could be and what had been going on during her break from public appearances. In addition to supporting Middleton during her recent diagnoses, a Daily Mail op-ed questioned, “How do all those vile online trolls feel now?” This, along with the supportive messages, seems to emphasize just how much people want to encourage Middleton during this overwhelming, sensitive time.
The recently published video seems to be a way in which Middleton can confirm to supporters that she is alright and to silence theorists in a professional and well-mannered way. As of now, it appears that Middleton is still taking time away from the public eye to handle her diagnosis and her family. Since the video was posted, no other information has been presented to the public, and it is unknown how Middleton is recovering as of right now.