Kate Middleton is keeping herself far away from public life as she continues her cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales announced the cancer diagnosis on March 22. Since Easter, she and her family, including her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have spent quality time with each other at their country house, Anmer Hall, in Sandringham.
King Charles and Kate Middleton both are going through cancer treatment. The king and princess are said to have supported each other through thick and thin throughout this challenging time. While Kate was recovering from her abdominal surgery at the London Clinic, Charles was said to have visited her to check in.
Shortly before her announcement video, Kate sat in the gardens of Windsor. She and King Charles reportedly had lunch together at Windsor Castle. Now, new details about their lunch have surfaced — and they don’t leave a dry eye.
King Charles and Kate Middleton are in the middle of their cancer treatments. The monarch, who was officially crowned king in early May of last year, disclosed his cancer diagnosis in early February, and about six weeks later, Kate Middleton shared the news of her diagnosis.
Kate Middleton – cancer diagnosis
On March 22, Kate Middleton broke her nearly two-month silence about her health after undergoing her “planned” abdominal surgery. The Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer and is now undergoing chemotherapy.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery,” Kate Middleton said in the video, as she sat on a bench in the grounds of Windsor, daffodils visible in the background behind her.
She added that the news came as a “huge shock.”
“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. Tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” Kate continued, adding that she was in the early stages of 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.”
“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 okay,” the Princess of Wales added, asking the public for privacy as she begins her treatment.
Several experts analyzed Kate Middleton’s video and the way she presented her cancer diagnosis to the world. Body language expert Judi James said that Kate sitting alone at the bench in the Windsor Gardens was a “testament to her strength and courage” and that it appeared that the Princess of Wales hadn’t” lost her sense of humor.”
Meanwhile, royal biographer Sally Bedel Smith told People Magazine that Kate’s video was “sincere, dignified and “poised.”
“She is inherently shy, and for her to do that took a lot,” Bedell Smith explained, adding that she got flashbacks to Queen Elizabeth II.
“When she ended with ‘You are not alone,’ it rang a bell with something that Queen Elizabeth would have said,” Bedell Smith explains. “It was very similar to what Queen Elizabeth said during COVID when she said, ‘We are all in this together.’”
“She was mindful there are very few people who read about that or watched that who doesn’t know someone who has cancer. She was mindful of that. It was a way of reassuring people not only about her condition but helping them have courage,” Sally Bedell smith added.
Kate Middleton has always been close to her father-in-law, King Charles. The Princess of Wales has even been labeled “the daughter he never had,” and after they both received cancer diagnoses, it appears that they have grown even closer.
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter pointed out that King Charles and Kate Middleton’s already strong relationship has likely grown even more vital as they have faced similar health struggles. Speaking on The Royal Beat, the royal commentator said they “would have found tremendous comfort in each other, going through something so similar.”
- Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith agreed and told People Magazine that she believes King Charles and Kate’s bond is growing stronger because of their similar health issues.
“He has always had a very good bond with her. I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People Magazine. “He shares with William an impulse to protect her. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”
Shortly after Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis, the Palace issued a statement. King Charles said he was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did” and added that he has “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.”
The statement was undoubtedly emotional, but according to royal expert Jennie Bond, one word confirmed that the two have an extraordinary relationship.
In an interview with OK! Magazine, Jennie Bond says that the fact that he said “closest contact” and not “close” was noteworthy.
Moreover, Bond revealed that the two had lunch together at Windsor Castle less than 24 hours before the video was released, which left Charles very emotional.
“There’s no doubt that cancer has cemented an already strong relationship. It’s very touching to think of Charles toddling down the corridor to see Kate when they were both in hospital. And it is understood that the King was left very emotional after their one-on-one lunch at Windsor Castle the day after she recorded her broadcast,” Bond said.
“There are so very few people in whom a senior royal can confide, certain that everything they say will be secure. I’m sure that both Charles and Kate have found it comforting to be able to discuss their emotions as well as the chemotherapy treatment and how it has made them feel.”
“After all, remember how Diana said Charles had always wanted a daughter. And he loves the grandchildren and now sees much more of them either at Windsor or Sandringham,” the royal expert continued.
King Charles thinks of Kate Middleton “as his daughter,” expert says
“It must be particularly tough for the children to know that both their grandfather and their mother are ill. But I’m sure Charles, like Kate, tries to shield them from that and carries on being a fun grandpa as much as he can in their tight knit little group.”
King Charles might not have shown his emotions about his bond with Kate Middleton in public. However, the monarch did reveal that he did cry after the enormous response to his cancer diagnosis.
In February, during a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shortly after his cancer diagnosis had been made public, King Charles said, “I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards. It’s reduced me to tears most of the time.”
“I hear there’s been a lot more attention and interest on those main, wonderful cancer charities, many of which I’ve been a patron for years,” the King added with a laugh.
Jennie Bond’s insights into King Charles’ emotional lunch are backed up by a source from The Sun, who says it is “unusual” for them to sit down together.
“The King had already been made aware that the woman he calls ‘my beloved daughter-in-law’ had cancer. They would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier, the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis,” the source told The Sun.
“The King left his lunch feeling very emotional. They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton decided to leave Adelaide Cottage to spend time at Anmer Hall at Sandringham. George, Charlotte, and Louis are returning to school on April 17, and they get to spend some quality time with their parents at the country house instead.
Exactly how Kate Middleton is doing as she has begun her treatment, which involves “a course of preventative chemotherapy,” is not known. However, according to royal expert Jennie Bond, the Princess of Wales appears to be doing well.
In an interview with Bella Magazine, the royal expert revealed that Kate is getting stronger with each day that passes.
“She says she’s getting stronger every day so I’m sure she’s doing her best to join in the outdoor life –the picnic, barbecues and walks on the beach,” Bond said.
Prince William has been an invaluable source of support for Kate in this challenging time. A longtime family friend told People he is a “reliable, strong person.” Thanks to him, Kate MIdldeotn “doesn’t feel isolated.”
“This is about supporting her and her feeling supported,” the family friend said. It is a joint effort. She doesn’t feel isolated at all. The nuclear family that they have created so well is immense support not only to him but to Catherine, too.”
The insider continued: “It is a particular time in their lives, and I know their priority will be to look after each other. His priority is on his family, and the other questions can wait.”
Time will tell when Kate Middleton will give an update about her cancer treatment and health status. But for now, she is focusing all her energy on being with the family she dearly loves.
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