Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales has been diagnosed with cancer, she confirmed in a recorded video statement on 22 March. “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’m so grateful,” her message begins. “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that 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,” the Princess continued. “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’s appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I’m going to be OK… As I’ve said to them, I am well, and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support, and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you’ll understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.”

The news comes after weeks of widespread concern and speculation about the Princess’s whereabouts. Kensington Palace first announced that she had undergone abdominal surgery at The London Clinic on 17 January, revealing that she was expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning to Adelaide Cottage to recover fully. “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the press release at the time noted. “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.”