Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun chemotherapy. The Princess disclosed her diagnosis and commencement of chemotherapy in a pre-recorded video message shared on Friday, characterizing the preceding months as “incredibly tough for our entire family.”
Her announcement follows King Charles III’s declaration of his own cancer diagnosis and treatment in early February. The revelation emerges after a period marked by uncertainty regarding Catherine’s health, during which she underwent abdominal surgery in January and withdrew from public life to focus on recovery.
Although the specific type of cancer Princess Catherine is battling remains undisclosed, medical professionals emphasize the commonality of discovering cancer incidentally during unrelated medical procedures, as described in her public statement released on Friday.
Dr. Elena Ratner, a gynecologic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, underscores this point, noting the prevalence of unexpected cancer diagnoses in her practice.
For the royal family, Catherine’s cancer diagnosis adds to a series of challenges, sidelining one of its prominent figures amidst existing strains. Alongside King Charles III’s treatment, the family copes with the loss of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan, and the disgraced status of Prince Andrew due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis in early February led to the suspension of his public duties for treatment, casting a shadow over his relatively new reign, which commenced approximately 18 months ago following his mother’s passing. Buckingham Palace’s announcement followed the 75-year-old sovereign’s discharge from a London hospital after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate.
