Kate Middletonchose to share hercancer diagnosiswithoutPrince William.
On Friday, the Princess of Wales, 42, spoke in a video message sharing that she was undergoing cancer treatment following herabdominal surgeryin January. Princess Kate appeared solo, prompting some to wonder why her husband, 41, didn’t join her.
“It is a message from the princess about her health, and she wanted to personally deliver the message on her own,” a palace source tells PEOPLE.
The insider says Princess Kate made clear her husband has been “supporting her throughout.”
“William is extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week but since her surgery in January, " the source says. “Now more than ever, he’s focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared.”
Kate Middleton announces cancer diagnosis on March 22, 2024.BBC Studios
BBC Studios
While the royal referenced Prince William and their children —Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis— multiple times in theself-written speech, she felt it was key she deliver it solo — and when the time was right.
“She and the prince needed time to process the news, she needed time to recover from surgery and she needed time to tell the children. That was the driving force,” the palace source says.
Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, werealready out of schoolfor the Easter holiday when the palace released Kate’s pre-recorded video disclosing the diagnosis, a decision made to create space for the family to have private time together in the coming weeks.
Kate Middleton and Prince William visit SportsAid to mark World Mental Health Day on October 12, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
“William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” Princess Kate said in the two-minute address.
Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Kate Middleton attend a Christmas concert on December 8, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment,” she added toward the close of the video.
PEOPLE Magazine, April 8, 2024.
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Prince Williamdoesn’t plan to return to royal workuntil George, Charlotte and Louis are back in the classroom at Lambrook School in late April, following the parents' choice to keep duties to a minimum to spend time with their children during school breaks.
“The children are at the center of their world,” a close friend says of the couple in this week’s PEOPLEcover story.
Another friend adds, “You take heart from the extraordinary resilience of children.”
source: people.com
