The Princess of Wales has called Prince William "a great source of comfort and reassurance"


The Princess of Wales gave a personal and unprecendented update on her health in a televised video message on Friday, confirming the news that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was in the early stages of preventative chemotherapy.
“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful," Kate Middleton recalled in the video.
“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, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
“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," she continued. "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 Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK."
The Princess of Wales paid particular tribute to husband Prince William, stating: “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. It means so much to us both.”
Later in her video message, the Princess of Wales asked for privacy for their young family as she recovers, stating: “We hope that you will 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 am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery."
Our thoughts are with the Princess of Wales as she recovers.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
We will continue to update this story.
Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.
-
It's a hard job picking the best beauty products of the month, but we've only gone and done it with these 8
5-star products
By Katie Thomas
-
As a beauty editor with oily skin, I've tested dozens of silicone primers—here are the ones that ensure my make-up lasts all day
My secret to a smooth long-lasting base
By Jazzria Harris
-
Penn Badgley has written songs for every one of his A-list girlfriends, from Zoë Kravitz to Blake Lively
By Jenny Proudfoot