Kate Middleton and Prince William have released a new joint statement after the Princess of Wales’ announcement on Friday that she has cancer.
In the message, the couple thanked people for their support after Kate’s revelation. Kate received an outpouring of support after she previously revealed in a video message that she was diagnosed with cancer after having planned abdominal surgery.
“Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too ⛰️❤️,” her brother James wrote on Instagram next to a photo of them as kids.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also released a public statement after the news. “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” the statement said, per CBS News.
Catherine Zeta-Jones also weighed in on Instagram, writing, “♥️ Your strength and grace is unwavering, you are in my thoughts.♥️”
Here’s everything to know about Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery and the diagnosis behind it, plus all of the health updates so far.
What is Kate's diagnosis?
Kate Middleton revealed on March 22nd that she's been diagnosed with cancer.
The Princess acknowledged in her video statement, that "at the time [of her surgery], it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous."
However, she said that despite the success of the surgery, tests after the operation found "cancer had been present."
She will undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy.
Jack Jacoub, MD, a board certified medical oncologist and hematologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Cancer Institute, says that chemotherapy is done because "we assume there are cancer cells we didn't remove, and those cancer cells might come back and create a recurrence of cancer." Chemo reduces that risk of recurrence, he clarified.
Why isn’t Kate sharing the type of cancer she has?
Kate hasn’t shared the type of cancer she has, and Kensington Palace has made it clear that she doesn’t plan to. In a statement released to the media, Kensington Palace officials said, “We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.”
King Charles, who also has cancer, did not share his specific diagnosis either. According to Town & Country, the palace has issued guidance to journalists that asked media outlets to avoid speculating or looking into the type of cancer that King Charles has, or the type of treatment he’s undergoing.
What is abdominal surgery?
Abdominal surgery is a broad term used to describe a surgical procedure that involves opening the abdominal cavity, according to The University of Tennessee Medical Center. It usually involves treating diseases, conditions, or injuries to the stomach and bowels, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile ducts, or surrounding soft tissues, the organization says.
The way the surgery is completed depends on the procedure someone is having done. Some medical conditions require more intensive surgeries, while others can be done via laparoscopic surgery, which is a surgical technique where short, narrow tubes are inserted into the abdomen through small incisions, per Medline Plus.
Recovery time can vary for abdominal surgery, depending on the type of surgery someone has and why it was done. With laparoscopic surgery, you can usually go back to work after three days, Cleveland Clinic says. But recovery from more invasive surgeries may take longer.
Where did Kate undergo abdominal surgery?
Kate received abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, the largest independent, private hospital in the U.K., according to PEOPLE. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II’s parents—King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother—in 1932. The hospital is currently equipped to treat 155 different conditions and has over 1,000 nursing, clinical, and support staff.
Kate isn't the first member of the royal family to receive care at the hospital. Like the Princess of Wales, the late Prince Philip also had abdominal surgery there in 2013, per PEOPLE. The late Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth’s sister) had skin lesions removed there in 1980, and in 1960, the Duke of Windsor (Queen Elizabeth’s uncle) underwent an eye operation, the publication reported.
Here's a timeline of her surgery, recovery, and every health update so far.
January 17, 2024: The news of Kate's abdominal surgery is first announced.
Kensington Palace shared an official statement on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account that read: “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. ”
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the statement continued. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.” Kensington Palace also noted that it “will only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.”
January 29: Princess Kate is released from the hospital.
On January 29, Kensington Palace announced that Kate was back home and "making good progress" in her surgery recovery after a two-week hospital stay.
"The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress," Kensington Palace shared on Instagram. The Prince and Princess of Wales also wished "a huge thank you to the entire team at the London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff" in the statement.
The Wales family also said they were "grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world."
After the news of Kate's health situation was initially shared on social media back in January, the comments section of the post were flooded with well-wishes, as well as questions about what “abdominal surgery” means.
March 2024: Reports reiterate Kate's desire for privacy.
“Kate’s said she feels she’s entitled to heal and recuperate without all of this frenzied speculation,” a source told Us Weekly in March 2024. “Neither Kate nor William think her medical records should be for public consumption.” The insider also said that Kate is “trying not to pay attention to all the rumors and gossip, and William is doing his best to shield her, but it’s distressing.”
But this has applied to her close circle, with the publication revealing that even people close to Kate don’t know what’s going on. Kate has reportedly had a few visitors, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, but her condition is otherwise covered by a “shroud of secrecy.”
“A few of Kate’s senior staffers haven’t been able to see or speak to her, and they didn’t even know about the surgery until it was announced, so it’s caught them off guard,” a second said. The insider added that Kate has only just started to tell people about what her operation was about. “Only a few people know what’s really going on, and they’re tight-lipped,” they said.
In the meantime, the Princess of Wales is reportedly being cared for by her mom. “Her mother has been a huge help,” the source said, noting that Carole Middleton has been a “personal chauffeur and brought books and magazines for [Kate] to read during her convalescence.”
March 4: Kate is photographed riding in a car with her mother.
Kate was seen in public for the first time since Christmas, riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, per People.
March 10: Kensington Palace releases a photo of Kate and her children for Mother's Day.
Kensington Palace released an Instagram photo of Kate and her three children, which was taken the week prior at Windsor, per People. In her first public post since undergoing surgery earlier this year, Kate thanked fans for their "kind wishes and continued support over the last two months."
"Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day," she added. Kate's husband, Prince William, is listed as the photographer on the image.
The snap set the internet ablaze, with commenters pointing out what appeared to be editing fails on Princess Charlotte's left hand and Prince Louis' shoulders, along with other inconsistencies. The picture was distributed internationally, before agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters removed it from their websites on claims that the photo was edited.
March 11: Kate apologizes for editing the family photo.
Kate issued an apology on March 11 to address “confusion” over the photo of herself with her kids.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter). “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.”
The post was signed “C” for Catherine, which is Kate’s first name.
March 11: Kate is photographed riding in a car with Prince William.
On the same day she apologized, Kate was photographed riding in a car with Prince William while leaving Windsor, although her face was obscured.
Goff Photos, the agency that took the picture, said in a statement to Today on March 12 that the snap was “cropped and lightened” but that “nothing has been doctored.”
Photographer Jim Bennett, who took the picture, shared that car shots are “unpredictable at the best of times…and with some reflection on the glass it can be difficult," per People.
Bennett said he was expecting to snap a picture of William, but it wasn’t until he looked at the frame that he realized Kate was in the car, too.
March 14: William mentions Kate during an event honoring Princess Diana
A few days later, William spoke at the Diana Legacy Awards in London and casually slipped Kate’s name into his speech. “[Princess Diana’s] legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years,” he said.
The future king didn’t say anything else about Kate.
March 16: Kate is spotted looking 'happy, relaxed and healthy' at a farm shop
The princess was seen in public visiting a farm shop near her Windsor home, where onlookers called her "happy, relaxed and healthy," per The Sun. The royal shopped alongside her husband William after watching her children take part in sports that morning, according to the outlet.
"After all the rumors that had been going 'round I was stunned to see them there," one onlooker said. "Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well. The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops."
March 18: Video footage is released of Kate's farm shop outing
On Monday, TMZ and The Sun both obtained footage of Kate walking out of the farm shop alongside her husband William. In the video, Kate wears an athletic hoodie and leggings, carrying a white shopping bag. She appears to be smiling as she chats with William.
Of course, this didn't convince everyone. Theorists on X (formerly known as Twitter) questioned the identity of the woman in the video—including Bravo host Andy Cohen, who wrote, "That ain’t Kate…."
March 19: Kate is the victim of a security breach
At least one staff member at The London Clinic—the hospital that treated Kate for her January abdominal surgery—attempted to access her medical records, a new report from The Mirror says.
Bosses at the London Clinic have launched an investigation into the breach, per the outlet.
"Everyone at The London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality," the hospital's CEO told People in a statement. "We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day. We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken. There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues."
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), a British privacy watchdog, told The Mirror that they also received a report and are investigating. Kate is aware of the incident, according to the publication.
The London Clinic—which has a reputation for discreetly treating members of the royal family—has been rocked by the news, with a source adding that staff are "utterly shocked and distraught."
March 22: Kate announces that she's been diagnosed with cancer
In a video address, Kate thanked her supporters personally for their kind words over the past few months. She explained that her January abdominal surgery was "successful," but subsequent tests revealed that cancer—the type of which was not disclosed—"had been present." The princess is now in the "early stages" of undergoing a round of "preventative" chemotherapy.
"This, of course, came as a huge shock," she said. "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."
The princess said it has taken time to tell her children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—"in a way that is appropriate for them."
The news came days after the royal was reportedly the victim of a security breach. At least one staff member at The London Clinic—the hospital that treated the princess for her January abdominal surgery—attempted to access her medical records, a new report from The Mirror says.
The royal ended her video with a message of hope, adding that she's getting better every day and requesting privacy during this time.
"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I am able," she said. "But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery."
March 23, 2024: Kate and Will release a statement.
The day after Kate revealed she has cancer, she and William released a joint statement to the media—the first time they’ve jointly addressed the public since Kate revealed that she was having planned abdominal surgery.
“The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message,” the statement says, per BBC. “They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”
Charlotte Walsh (she/her) is an associate news editor with Women's Health, where she covers the intersection of wellness and entertainment. Previously, she worked as a writer at The Messenger, E! News, and Netflix. In her free time, she enjoys reality television, tennis and films starring Nicole Kidman.
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