An emotional update has emerged regarding the health of Kate Middleton.
The Princess of Wales, aged 42, has been notably absent from the public spotlight since she was spotted at a Christmas service last year.
During this event, she was accompanied by other members of the royal family, including her husband Prince William and their children.
Several months later, Middleton revealed she had started ‘a course of preventative chemotherapy’ following a cancer diagnosis.
Recently, friends and sources close to Middleton have shared insights about the princess’s current condition.
The announcement of her illness came after much public speculation concerning her sudden absence, with the hashtag #WhereisKate even trending online.
This period of uncertainty also coincided with a controversy surrounding a family photo – amid speculation, a photograph featuring the princess with her children was circulated on Mother’s Day.
However, the photo was later withdrawn by several major news organizations including Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
A spokesperson for AP explained to Sky News: “The Associated Press initially published the photo, which was issued by Kensington Palace. The AP later retracted the image because at closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
Reuters reported that the photo was pulled following a ‘post-publication review’.
Following the photo debacle, Middleton admitted to tweaking the image herself, stating: “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,”
“I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.
“I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”
Later, Middleton opened up about her cancer diagnosis through a video confession, describing the past few months as incredibly challenging for her family.
She shared: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful.
“However, subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer. Consequently, my medical team recommended a course of preventative chemotherapy, which I have now begun.
“This news was undoubtedly a huge shock, and William and I have been tackling this privately for our family’s sake.”
The princess emphasized the need for ‘space and privacy’ during this time.
This announcement was made shortly after King Charles also shared his own cancer diagnosis.
Having recently resumed his royal duties, when queried by The Guardian about his health, he responded: “I’m all right, thank you very much, not too bad.”
Meanwhile, during a visit to the Isles of Scilly, Prince William provided a brief update on Middleton, as recounted by a woman he spoke with (according to Sky News): “I asked William about his wife Kate and he said, ‘She’s doing well, thanks’, and I suggested they might visit with the children.”
William supposedly replied: “The children are very jealous that I am here… Maybe we might come later in the year.”
Further details on when Middleton might return to public engagements have been hinted at by sources and friends.
According to The Daily Beast, Middleton’s schedule for the year remains ‘empty’, indicating she may not make public appearances for the remainder of the year.
“The main focus for her now is to avoid any stress or anxiety and concentrate on her recovery. They plan to retreat to Sandringham as soon as the school term ends,” a friend told the publication.
This friend added that Middleton’s ‘circle of trust’ remains tight, with her family providing crucial support during this challenging period.
Richard Eden of the Daily Mail disclosed that the princess’s friends believe ‘we might not see Catherine again until the autumn – and only then if she has fully recovered’.