LONDON: Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, said on Friday she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests taken following major abdominal surgery in January revealed cancer had been present.
Kate, 42, the wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William,spent two weeks in hospital in January after having what heroffice said at the time was successful, planned surgery for anon-cancerous but unspecified condition.
However, in a video message, Kate said subsequent tests hadrevealed cancer had been found, but she said she was well andgetting stronger.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo acourse of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the earlystages of that treatment,” Kate said in the video which wasfilmed on Wednesday.
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“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I havebeen doing everything we can to process and manage thisprivately for the sake of our young family.”
King Charles revealed in February that he too was to havetreatment for cancer, meaning he has had to postpone his publicroyal duties.
Her office, Kensington Palace, said it would give no furtherdetails about the type of cancer. It said she was on a recoverypathway and the preventative chemotherapy had begun in February.
After her operation, the palace said Kate would not returnto official duties until after Easter, but her absence frompublic life has provoked intense speculation on social media.
She and William had wanted privacy about the cancer untiltheir children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5, began their school holidays which started onFriday.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in orderto start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken ustime to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in away that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I amgoing to be ok,” she said.
“As I have said to them; I am well and getting strongerevery day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; inmy mind, body and spirits.”
Kate has not appeared at a public event since she joinedother members of the royal family for a church service onChristmas Day.