The Princess of Wales announced on Friday she's battling cancer and is currently undergoing 'preemptive chemotherapy.'
After months of speculation regarding Kate Middleton's whereabouts and her health, the Princess of Wales has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
In a video statement shared by Buckingham Palace Friday, Kate explained that tests conducted after her January abdominal surgery "found cancer had been present."
The mother of three did not reveal what kind of cancer she's battling, only that she's currently undergoing "preventative chemotherapy" and is "now in the early stages of that treatment."
Kate, 42, said the news of the cancer diagnosis came as a "huge shock" to the royal family. She explained that she and Prince William endeavored to manage the situation privately for the sake of their young children -- Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
"As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louie in a way that's appropriate for them and to reassure them that I'm going to be OK," she shared in the announcement. "As I said to them, I am well, and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support, and kindness that has been shown by so many of you."
Concluding the video, Kate said, "We hope that you'll understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I'm able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery."
"For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone," she added.
Following the devastating news, a source told ET that Kate filmed the video on March 20, and she started receiving cancer treatment shortly after her surgery in January.
William and Kate struggled to tell their children, the source explained, because they wanted to shield them as much as possible. "Children process information in different ways. Their primary concern was to be able to explain this to the children in a way that was reassuring, and they could process," the source said.
And despite all erroneous speculation on social media, a source says that William has been at Kate's side and his primary goal in all of this has been to support his wife and his children.
Another source tells ET, "Kate was diagnosed with cancer and has been receiving treatment for it. Kate and her family know she has a long road ahead of her, but she's staying positive. At the end of the day, Kate's main concern is her children and she's doing everything she can to maintain what kind of normalcy she can for them as she battles the disease."
The cancer diagnosis revelation comes just days after there was a potential breach of Kate's health records. On March 19, the UK tabloid The Mirror reported that The London Clinic, where Kate was treated for her abdominal surgery, launched an investigation over claims staff tried to access her private medical records.
The Information Commissioner's Office, Britain's data watchdog, later released a statement confirming that they are looking into the matter.
The ICO shared, "We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided."
Kate's diagnosis is especially sobering news after Buckingham Palace announced last month that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer.
The palace announced that Charles was diagnosed with cancer following an unrelated procedure for an enlarged prostate. The Palace has not clarified what kind of cancer Charles has or what stage.
In the wake of his diagnosis, William took over many of his official duties as Charles' duties were scaled back for cancer treatment. Prince Harry also made a 24-hour visit to see his dad.
Following his visit, Harry opened up about his father's diagnosis and gave an update on his health. "I love my family," the 39-year-old father of two stated during an interview with Will Reeve. "The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that."
When asked if his father's health played a part in healing their relationship, Harry shared that it has.
"Absolutely," he said. "Yeah, I’m sure."
RELATED CONTENT:
