The Prince and Princess of Wales were thankful and “enormously touched” by the kind messages from the public this week after the British Royal Family announced Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis on Friday.
Middleton said she began radiotherapy for an abdominal cancer after a surgery “found cancer had been present” earlier this year. Questions swirled over the Princess’ condition after she was away from the public spotlight for months.
“The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message,” a spokesman for the couple said Saturday. “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.”
Kate, 42, said the cancer was discovered during surgery for what was believed to be a non-cancerous, undisclosed medical issue. Details of her condition have not been released, other than that she is now receiving 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,” Kate, who has three young children, said in the video announcement.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she added, referring to an abdominal surgery she underwent in January and a subsequent stay at a hospital in London.
The announcement shocked the public, sparking mass sympathy for Kate and the Royal Family from world leaders and global citizens alike.
President Biden sent his sympathies in an X post on Friday.
“Jill and I join millions around the world in praying for your full recovery, Princess Kate,” Biden posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in a reply to her video announcement.
The first lady followed with her own X post, writing “You are brave, and we love you.”