Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Buckingham Palace hails ‘wonderful’ Kate Middleton cancer update as she completes chemotherapy treatment

King Charles and Queen Camilla are continuing to offer their love and support

Holly Evans
Tuesday 10 September 2024 12:49 BST
Comments
Buckingham Palace said Kate’s health update is ‘wonderful news’
Buckingham Palace said Kate’s health update is ‘wonderful news’ (Will Warr/Kensington Palace/PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Buckingham Palace has hailed the “wonderful news” that the Princess of Wales has completed her chemotherapy treatment following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

In a highly intimate and emotional video, Kate, 42, confirmed she hopes to return to public duties and described the past nine months as “incredibly tough for us as a family”.

Spoken over footage showing the Waleses and their three children enjoying the outdoors, walking through woods and playing games, she said the experience had given her a “new perspective on everything.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla consider the announcement to be “wonderful news” and are continuing to offer their love, thoughts and support to the princess on her journey to recovery, a palace spokesperson told The Independent.

Both Kate and Charles were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year
Both Kate and Charles were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year (Chris Jackson/PA Wire)

Kate is hoping to return to a light programme of public duties for the remainder of the year and aims for a handful of engagements in the coming months.

This includes her Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey, which has become a firm fixture in the royal calendar, and she is said to be hoping to make an appearance with the royal family at the annual Remembrance Sunday service in November.

In the video, Kate says: “Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

“I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

“Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”

Kate hopes to resume light duties and attend a few public engagements later this year
Kate hopes to resume light duties and attend a few public engagements later this year (Kensington Palace)

The three-minute video was shot last month at the couple’s home in Norfolk, and shows her and Prince William spending quality time with their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

It also includes her parents Carole and Michael Middleton, who are said to have been of a huge emotional support to her over the last year.

Other video clips show the couple playing outdoor games with their children, and reflects the couple’s close relationship as they hold hands while William attempts to kiss her on the cheek.

The princess had been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, after initially being admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on 16 January.

She said her cancer had left her with a ‘renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life’
She said her cancer had left her with a ‘renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life’ (Kensington Palace)

At the time, her condition was thought to be non-cancerous but tests after the successful operation found the disease.

She appeared emotional in a video in March where she announced the state of her health and spoke of the “huge shock” of the medical development.

It came at a difficult time for the royal family, with King Charles announcing his own cancer diagnosis just weeks previously after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in