How Kate Middleton Is Talking To George, Charlotte & Louis About Her Cancer Trea
How Kate Middleton Is Talking To George, Charlotte & Louis About Her Cancer Trea
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00:00 As you can imagine, this has taken time.
00:03 It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
00:08 But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte
00:12 and Louis in a way that's appropriate for them and to reassure them that I'm going to
00:17 be okay.
00:18 Kate Middleton is prioritizing family as she navigates her cancer diagnosis.
00:25 On Friday, March 22nd, the Princess of Wales announced in a moving video released by Kensington
00:29 Palace that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after doctors discovered cancer
00:35 had been present following her abdominal surgery in January.
00:39 The 42-year-old didn't go into specifics about the diagnosis but did admit it took her and
00:45 Prince William some time to tell their three kids, 10-year-old Prince George, 8-year-old
00:49 Princess Charlotte and 5-year-old Prince Louis.
00:53 This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to
00:58 process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
01:04 As you can imagine, this has taken time.
01:06 It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
01:11 But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte
01:16 and Louis in a way that's appropriate for them and to reassure them that I'm going to
01:20 be okay.
01:21 In the video, Kate also briefly explained how she is talking to her kids about her health
01:27 and gave a loving nod to Prince William for the support.
01:31 As I've said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things
01:36 that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit.
01:40 Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too.
01:45 As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you.
01:49 It means so much to us both.
01:52 Kate went on to explain the timeline of her medical journey revealing why she is undergoing
01:56 chemo.
01:57 In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time it was thought that
02:03 my condition was non-cancerous.
02:06 The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been
02:12 present.
02:13 My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy
02:19 and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment.
02:22 The 42-year-old also expressed her need for continued privacy during this time as she
02:27 and her family navigate their next steps.
02:30 We hope that you'll understand that as a family we now need some time, space and privacy while
02:37 I complete my treatment.
02:40 My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when
02:44 I'm able.
02:45 But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.
02:50 The princess' shocking update comes as her father-in-law, King Charles, announced he
02:54 was diagnosed with cancer in February, shortly after he completed a procedure to correct
02:59 an enlarged prostate.
03:01 As of March 22, the palace has not specified their respective types of cancer, but Buckingham
03:06 Palace did issue a statement from King Charles regarding Kate that read, quote, "His Majesty
03:11 is so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.
03:16 During their time in hospital together, HM has remained in the closest contact with his
03:20 beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.
03:22 Both their Majesties will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family
03:27 through this time."
03:29 Kate's video is the first time she has directly addressed the public since her January surgery.
03:35 Her last official appearance was during the family's Christmas church outing in December
03:39 2023.
03:41 Since then, rampant speculation regarding her whereabouts and well-being have taken
03:45 over the internet.
03:47 Access Hollywood spoke to Daily Mail's U.S. associate editor, Charlie Langston, on Friday,
03:52 and she talked about Kate's major announcement and why she is finally speaking out now.
03:58 I think we've known all along that when it came to this significant a health update that
04:06 Kate would want to be the person to share it with the world.
04:10 There is obviously a difference between saying she's going in for surgery and then sharing
04:16 the news that you are going through this kind of serious health battle.
04:21 And I also think that Kate felt it was important to address the world personally for a number
04:26 of reasons.
04:27 A, to stop all of the crazy conspiracy theories, which I hope will now end as a result of this
04:34 very, very emotional video, and B, because she wanted people to hear it from her in her
04:43 own words in order to bring a bit more humanity back to the situation.
04:48 It feels very much to me like the world, or at least some of the world, has forgotten
04:53 that this whole thing involves a wife and a mother of three children.
04:58 Yes, she is the princess of Wales.
05:00 Yes, she is one of the most senior members of the royal family.
05:05 But at the foundation, she is a wife and a mother and a daughter.
05:10 And I really hope that by sharing this message in such a personal way, Kate will have reminded
05:17 those around the world who forgot that fact that she's a person and she deserves a little
05:22 bit more respect than she's been afforded.
05:25 I think that the timing of it will have been down to a number of different reasons.
05:30 First and foremost, they wanted to make sure that they had all of their ducks in a row,
05:36 as it were.
05:37 You know, they want to make sure that her treatment plan is set out, that they are sure
05:42 that there are no kind of hiccups that they might be dealing with in the next few days.
05:47 And also because Kate said in the video, she is in the very early stages of her treatment,
05:52 which suggests that she still has some way to go in continuing that treatment.
05:57 And I think that by releasing the video now, what the palace and indeed what Kate and William
06:02 will be hoping for is that people take this as an opportunity to step back, to afford
06:08 them the privacy that she asked for so graciously in that video.
06:13 And also to remember that she has three young children and that she has been taking the
06:18 time needed to get them through dealing with this diagnosis, making them understand what
06:24 it means without scaring them.
06:27 And now that she's had the opportunity to do that, now that her family has been able
06:31 to sit with that for a little bit, she feels ready to tell the world.
06:35 [MUSIC]