Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, said on Monday she had finished her course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer and would be carrying out a handful of public engagements later this year, but said her path to full recovery would be long.

Kate, 42, wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, underwent major abdominal surgery in January which revealed the presence of cancer and has been undergoing treatment since then.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in a personal message released by her office.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”

Kate made her first public appearance since her health issues emerged in June at “Trooping the Colour”, the annual military parade to mark the official birthday of King Charles, and in July, she appeared at the Wimbledon tennis championships.

As part of the latest announcement, Kensington Palace released a highly-personal video of Kate with William and their three children which was filmed in Norfolk.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said.

“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, revealed in March that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Amid this, a new royal biography has revealed that she had an emergency surgery as a teenager to remove a lump from her head, as per a report in the Independent. This was shared by royal author Rob Jobson in his upcoming book, ‘Catherine, the Princess of Wales’.

“Apart from debilitating bouts of morning sickness and, of course, stays in the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital to deliver her babies, Catherine has fortunately avoided hospital for most of her life,” Mr Jobson explained. “As a teenager, however, when at Marlborough College she discovered a lump on the left side of her head, just under her hairline,” he added.

The author added that her mother took her to the hospital where the doctors removed it. “The school notified her parents immediately and her mother Carole took her to hospital, where she had surgery to remove it,” he wrote in the book.

However, the operation left a three-inch scar which several people noticed on Ms Middleton’s first solo engagement over two decades ago. The Buckingham Palace shared a brief statement that read, “‘The scar is related to a childhood operation.”

Meanwhile, the Princess said in June that she was making good progress as she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. However, she was “not out of the woods”.

In a personal written message, Ms Middleton said she had been “blown away” by the thousands of kind messages from across the globe which followed her cancer announcement in March. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” her statement said.

She added, “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.” She said they had made a world of difference to her and her husband, heir-to-the-throne Prince William.

“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” she said. “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she said on June 14.

The Princess of Wales was recently seen at the Wimbledon Men’s final in London as she walked onto the court to present the trophy to winner Carlos Alcaraz. A passionate tennis fan and player herself, Kate was greeted with a thunderous ovation as she entered the Royal Box at Centre Court, accompanied by her daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Matthews.

 

Marking a milestone on their family’s social media channels, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis penned a heartfelt message for their father, Prince William, on Father’s Day. This sweet tribute, signed “G, C, & L,”  marked the first time the young royals had directly contributed to their parents’ official social media presence. The post was accompanied by a heartwarming photograph, likely taken by their mother, the Princess of Wales, showcasing the close bond between Prince William and his children.

The post on X reads, “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day”, followed by two red hearts.

The heartwarming photo, captured by Kate Middleton, shows a relaxed Prince William with his arms around his children, gazing out at the Norfolk coastline. The picture was reportedly taken during a family trip last month.

We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day G, C & L

The Princess of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/kI9AFV2XmT

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

Earlier on Sunday, William shared his own Father’s Day tribute to his father, King Charles III. The prince posted a photograph from his childhood, showing him playing football with the King in the gardens of Kensington Palace. The picture, taken on 12 June 1984, captures the nearly two-year-old prince smiling as he kicks a brightly coloured football. Just a few months after this photo was taken, William’s younger brother, the Duke of Sussex, was born.

The post is personally signed off by the prince, with the caption: “Happy Father’s Day, Pa.”

Happy Father’s Day, Pa. W pic.twitter.com/pjGuB2iLQ1

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

The Father’s Day post, featuring a football theme, could be a way to show support for the England team playing in Euro 2024 this evening.

New Delhi:

Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and his wife Kate, stole the show today during the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since surgery five months ago revealed the presence of cancer. The 6-year-old was seen dancing during today’s Trooping the Colour ceremony, which marks the official birthday of the British monarch, King Charles. Videos of Louis dancing have gone viral on social media.

In the videos, Louis is seen standing on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with Kate and his siblings – Prince George and Princess Charlotte – during the parade. He breaks into an impromptu dance and does not stop even after a mild scolding from his elder sister Charlotte.

Kate, whose royal name is Princess Catherine, is seen smiling as Louis continues his dance.

Prince Louis dances along to proceedings.#TroopingTheColourpic.twitter.com/nehvzkNQUm

— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) June 15, 2024

Minutes before Louis’ light moment, Kate rode in a carriage with her three children before disembarking to watch proceedings from a viewing point.

Crowds lining the streets waved and cheered as the carriage went past.

The appearance comes nearly three months after the future queen revealed she was receiving chemotherapy treatment. The 42-year-old princess had not been seen at a public engagement since a Christmas Day service last year.

Charles rode in a separate carriage with Queen Camilla, followed by Prince William, Charles’ heir and Kate’s husband, who was on horseback along with other senior members of the royal family.

New Delhi:

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday heaped praise on Kate Middleton, Britain’s Princess of Wales, as she shared a health update on her ongoing cancer treatment.

In a message, Kate said she was “making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days”. She also said she will make her first public appearance on Saturday since surgery revealed the presence of cancer in January.

Responding to her on X, formerly Twitter, Sunak said the Princess of Wales’ statement will be “especially meaningful” to those fighting cancer and their families.

“They will recognise the same struggle in her words and draw hope and inspiration from her strength,” he said.

The Princess of Wales’ statement will be especially meaningful to those who are fighting cancer and for their families.

They will recognise the same struggle in her words and draw hope and inspiration from her strength.

I’m delighted she will be in attendance for His Majesty’s… https://t.co/RBAtvtBjtn

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 14, 2024

“I’m delighted she will be in attendance for His Majesty’s Birthday Parade and I know the whole country is behind her,” Sunak, attending a G7 summit in Italy, added.

Kate Middleton Shares Update On Cancer Treatment

Kate Middleton on Friday said her cancer treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. She said that she was making good progress as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy but is “not out of the woods”.

The 42-year-old princess also expressed that she had been “blown away” by the thousands of kind messages from across the globe that followed her cancer announcement in March. She said the messages made a “world of difference” to her and her husband Prince William and them through “some of the harder times”.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well,” she said in a lengthy social media post.

She also tagged her picture — taken earlier this week in Windsor, west of London — standing in front of a tree next to a river.

“On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she wrote.

Kate said that she is learning “how to be patient, especially with uncertainty”.

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going… pic.twitter.com/J1jTlgwRU8

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 14, 2024

“Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal. Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me,” she said.

Kate Middleton’s First Public Appearance In 6 Months

In what would mark her first public appearance in six months, Kate Middleton announced that she will attend King Charles’s annual birthday parade on Saturday with other senior royals.

“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she said.

Kate Middleton’s appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour parade for King Charles’s official birthday will be her first public appearance since she was seen gathering with other royals for Christmas in December last year.

She had announced in a video in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer discovered following abdominal surgery.

A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024

Her announcement came weeks after King Charles revealed that he was being treated for an unspecified cancer.

(With agency inputs)

The British royal family is expressing solidarity with Israel following the unexpected attacks by Hamas operatives that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 civilians over the past weekend. While the King and other senior members of the royal family have denounced the attacks, Prince William and Kate Middleton issued a joint statement on Wednesday evening strongly condemning Hamas’ brutal act of violence.

The BBC reported, quoting Palace sources, that the King was “appalled”, and condemned the “barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel”. The Prince and Princess of Wales are “profoundly distressed” by the events since strikes began on Saturday, according to their spokesman. He said the couple believes all Israelis and Palestinians will be “stalked by grief, fear, and anger”.

“A spokesperson for The Prince and Princess of Wales said, ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past few days. The horrors inflicted by Hamas’s terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them,” the statement shared on microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, read.

pic.twitter.com/lh3f5lusNx

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 11, 2023

“As Israel exercises its right to self-defense, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear, and anger in the time to come. They hold all the victims, their families, and their friends in their hearts and minds. Those the Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope-that of a better future.”

“In the midst of such terrible suffering, the Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.”

Meanwhile, Israeli forces reported that approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, had lost their lives in the Hamas attack, marking it as the most devastating in the nation’s history.

As Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people, in response, the number of deaths there has also reached 1,200 people, including a high number of civilians, according to Palestinian authorities.

More than 338,000 people in the enclave have been displaced, according to the United Nations.

(With inputs from agencies)