Catherine Princess of Wales undergoing cancer treatment | BBC News

BBC News
22 Mar 202411:35

Summary

TLDRThe Princess of Wales has publicly announced that she is undergoing treatment for cancer. In a personal message, she expresses gratitude for the support received and shares her journey, including major abdominal surgery and the subsequent discovery of cancer. She emphasizes the importance of family and privacy during this challenging time and sends a message of hope to others affected by cancer.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 The Princess of Wales has announced she is undergoing treatment for cancer and has released a personal message explaining her situation.
  • πŸ’Œ She expressed gratitude for the support and understanding she has received during her recovery from surgery.
  • πŸ₯ In January, she underwent major abdominal surgery in London, initially thought to be for a non-cancerous condition.
  • 🧬 Post-surgery tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading to the recommendation of a preventative chemotherapy course.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ The news has been a shock to the royal family, particularly as they focus on protecting their young children from media scrutiny.
  • πŸŽ₯ The Princess shared her message at a time when her children are on Easter break, allowing the family some privacy.
  • 🌈 The Princess remains positive about her recovery, stating she is well and getting stronger every day.
  • 🀝 She emphasized the importance of having Prince William by her side and the comfort provided by public support and kindness.
  • 🚫 The royal family will not be fulfilling their public duties on the usual schedule while focusing on recovery.
  • πŸ‘‘ The monarchy is going through an unstable time with key figures undergoing treatment and less public visibility.
  • πŸ™ The Princess of Wales extends her thoughts to others affected by cancer, urging them not to lose faith or hope.

Q & A

  • What recent announcement has the Princess of Wales made regarding her health?

    -The Princess of Wales has announced that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

  • What was the initial condition the Princess was treated for in January?

    -The Princess initially underwent major abdominal surgery in January, and at the time, it was thought that her condition was non-cancerous.

  • What unexpected discovery was made after the Princess's surgery?

    -Tests after the operation found that cancer had been present, which led to the recommendation for a course of preventative chemotherapy.

  • How has the Princess described the past couple of months for her family?

    -The Princess described the past couple of months as incredibly tough for her entire family.

  • What has been the focus for the Prince and Princess of Wales during this challenging time?

    -The focus of the Prince and Princess of Wales has been to protect their children and explain the situation to them appropriately.

  • How has the public speculation and rumors affected the royal family?

    -The public speculation and rumors have created a difficult time for the royal family, especially as they are dealing with health issues within the family.

  • What is the Princess's current approach to her treatment and recovery?

    -The Princess is focusing on making a full recovery, emphasizing the importance of healing in her mind, body, and spirit, and is grateful for the support she has received.

  • What message did the Princess convey to others affected by cancer?

    -The Princess urged others affected by cancer not to lose faith or hope, emphasizing that they are not alone.

  • How has the royal family been managing public appearances during this time?

    -The royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and King Charles, have been reducing their public appearances to focus on their recovery and privacy.

  • What is the significance of the timing of the Princess's public announcement?

    -The announcement was timed to coincide with the Easter holidays, allowing the family to have some private time together after informing their children about the diagnosis.

  • What is the role of the medical team in the Princess's treatment and recovery process?

    -The Princess's medical team has been crucial in her treatment and recovery process, providing care, guidance, and approval for her public appearances and duties.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Personal Update from the Princess of Wales on Cancer Diagnosis

The Princess of Wales shares a deeply personal message revealing her cancer diagnosis and the subsequent treatment she has been undergoing. She expresses gratitude for the outpouring of support and understanding during her recovery from major abdominal surgery, initially thought to be non-cancerous. The Princess details the shock of discovering cancer post-surgery and her current course of preventative chemotherapy. She emphasizes the importance of family privacy during this challenging time and her hope for a full recovery, while also extending words of encouragement to others affected by cancer.

05:00

πŸŽ„ The Princess's Public and Private Struggles

The narrative continues with the Princess of Wales's public appearances and private health struggles. Despite a seemingly cheerful public facade during the Christmas season, the Princess was later admitted to the hospital for major surgery, where cancer was discovered. The intense public interest in her health condition is addressed, along with the family's efforts to protect their children from media scrutiny. The Princess's statement, filmed on a personal level, aims to quell rumors and speculations, highlighting the family's desire for privacy during the Easter holidays as they focus on recovery and family.

10:01

🏑 Family Life and Future Outlook in Windsor

The focus shifts to the Princess of Wales's family life in Windsor, where she and her husband, Prince William, are navigating the challenges of her cancer diagnosis. The couple's priority is to safeguard their children and explain the situation to them with care. The public is informed that the Princess will not be resuming her full schedule of public duties for some time, with occasional appearances only when approved by her medical team. The segment concludes with a local perspective from Windsor, emphasizing the shock and concern of residents and tourists alike upon hearing the news of the Princess's health.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Princess of Wales

Refers to the royal title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales. In this context, it specifically refers to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who is the wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The video discusses her recent announcement of undergoing cancer treatment, highlighting her personal struggle and the impact on the royal family.

πŸ’‘Cancer treatment

Refers to the medical procedures and therapies used to treat cancer, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other treatments. In the video, the Princess of Wales reveals that she is in the early stages of a course of preventative chemotherapy following the discovery of cancer after abdominal surgery.

πŸ’‘Personal message

A direct communication from an individual, often used to convey personal feelings, experiences, or updates. In this video, the Princess of Wales releases a personal message to the public explaining her health situation and thanking them for their support.

πŸ’‘Support

Refers to the assistance, encouragement, or aid provided to someone, often in times of difficulty. In the context of the video, it highlights the outpouring of messages and understanding from the public during the Princess of Wales' health crisis.

πŸ’‘Recovery

The process of returning to a normal state of health, strength, or activity after an illness or medical procedure. In the video, the Princess of Wales discusses her recovery from major surgery and the subsequent cancer treatment.

πŸ’‘Preventative chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment administered after initial surgery or diagnosis to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. In the video, it is mentioned as the course of treatment the Princess of Wales is undertaking following the discovery of cancer.

πŸ’‘Family

Refers to a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption, who typically live together and provide emotional and practical support to each other. In this context, the video emphasizes the importance of family support for the Princess of Wales during her treatment and the need to protect her children from media scrutiny.

πŸ’‘Privacy

The state or condition of being free from public attention or scrutiny. In the video, the Princess of Wales requests privacy for her family as they deal with her health challenges and spend time together during her treatment.

πŸ’‘Public duty

Refers to the responsibilities and obligations that members of a royal family or other public figures have towards their country or community, typically involving official engagements and representation. In the video, it is mentioned that the Princess of Wales will be taking a break from her public duties to focus on her health.

πŸ’‘Royal family

The immediate family of a reigning monarch, typically including the monarch's children, grandchildren, and sometimes more extended relatives. In this video, the term is used to discuss the impact of health issues on key members of the British royal family, including the Princess of Wales and King Charles.

πŸ’‘Speculation and rumors

The act of forming opinions or theories without the basis of sure evidence; conjecture. In the context of the video, it refers to the unconfirmed reports and guesses about the Princess of Wales' health that were circulating before her official announcement.

Highlights

Princess of Wales announces she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

She releases a personal message thanking supporters and explaining her recent health journey.

The Princess had major abdominal surgery in January, initially thought to be non-cancerous.

Post-surgery tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading to a recommendation for preventative chemotherapy.

The royal family has been dealing with this news privately to protect their young children.

Princess of Wales emphasizes the importance of family support during this challenging time.

She expresses gratitude for the medical team's care and the public's support.

The Princess is currently in the early stages of her chemotherapy treatment.

Prince William and the Princess have been explaining the situation to their children in an age-appropriate manner.

The royal family seeks privacy as they navigate this health challenge.

The Princess remains positive about her recovery and looks forward to returning to her duties.

The monarchy is facing a period of instability due to health issues affecting key figures.

The public has been speculating about the Princess's health due to limited information.

The Princess's last public appearance was with her family on Christmas Day.

The family's priority is to protect their children from media scrutiny during this time.

The Princess's statement is positive and hopeful, aiming to quell rumors and speculation.

Chemotherapy can now be administered as daily tablets, allowing for treatment at home.

Cancer affects many, with one in two people in the UK expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

The Princess urges others facing cancer not to lose faith or hope.

The royal family is focusing on private time during the Easter holidays for recovery and family.

Transcripts

00:00

at 6 the Princess of Wales has just

00:03

announced that she is undergoing

00:05

treatment for cancer here now is a very

00:08

personal message from her which has just

00:10

been released in which she explains what

00:12

has been happening in recent

00:15

weeks I wanted to take this opportunity

00:18

to say thank you personally for all the

00:20

wonderful messages of support and for

00:22

your understanding whilst I've been

00:24

recovering from

00:26

surgery it has been an incredibly tough

00:29

couple of months for our entire family

00:31

but I've had a fantastic medical team

00:33

who have taken great care of me for

00:35

which I'm so

00:36

grateful in January I underwent major

00:39

abdominal surgery in London and at the

00:42

time it was thought that my condition

00:43

was

00:45

non-cancerous the surgery was successful

00:48

however tests after the operation found

00:50

cancer had been

00:52

present my medical team therefore

00:54

advised that I should undergo a course

00:56

of preventative chemotherapy and I'm now

00:58

in the early stages that

01:01

treatment this of course came as a huge

01:04

shock and William and I have been doing

01:06

everything we can to process and manage

01:09

this privately for the sake of our young

01:12

family as you can imagine this has taken

01:15

time it has taken me time to recover

01:17

from major surgery in order to start my

01:20

treatment but most importantly it has

01:23

taken us time to explain everything to

01:25

George Charlotte and Louie in a way

01:27

that's appropriate for them and to

01:29

reassure them that I'm going to be

01:32

okay as I've said to them I am well and

01:35

getting stronger every day by focusing

01:37

on the things that will help me heal in

01:39

my mind body and

01:41

Spirits having William by my side is a

01:43

great source of comfort and reassurance

01:45

too as is the love support and kindness

01:48

that has been shown by so many of you it

01:51

means so much to us

01:53

both we hope that you'll understand that

01:56

as a family we now need some time SP

01:59

face and privacy while I complete my

02:03

treatment my work has always brought me

02:06

a deep sense of joy and I look forward

02:08

to being back when I'm able but for now

02:11

I must focus on making a full

02:14

recovery at this time I'm also thinking

02:17

of all those whose lives have been

02:19

affected by cancer for everyone facing

02:22

this disease in whatever form please do

02:25

not lose Faith or hope you are not alone

02:31

the Princess of Wales with a very

02:32

personal message that was filmed on

02:35

Wednesday in windso while our Royal

02:37

correspondent Daniel Ralph is with me

02:39

now a huge shock to Katherine as she

02:41

says it's going to be a huge shock to

02:42

millions of other people as well yeah

02:45

that's right um a huge shock as you say

02:47

to the Princess of Wales and clearly a

02:49

very deeply upsetting time for her and

02:51

her family in recent weeks and what's

02:53

very clear from hearing from the team

02:55

around the prince and princess today is

02:57

that this has been entirely driven by

02:58

trying to protect protect the children

03:00

that has been the focus of the prince

03:02

and princess of Wales in recent weeks it

03:04

is why this news has come out today

03:06

today is when Prince George princess

03:09

Charlotte and Prince Louie break up from

03:10

school for the Easter holidays and it

03:12

was felt that this was the moment to go

03:14

public uh because they're now able to

03:17

protect them as parents protect their

03:19

children from the scrutiny and the

03:21

spotlight that might have been going on

03:22

had they still been at school they now

03:24

have two to three weeks to spend some

03:26

time privately as a family and the

03:28

prince and princess of well had wanted

03:29

to make sure they tell the CH children

03:31

properly appropriately about this

03:33

diagnosis and give them time to take

03:35

that in so that is why it is today that

03:37

we have found out and the tone of her

03:39

message I am well she says in that video

03:41

I hope to make a full recovery I mean

03:43

that is the that is very much her tone

03:45

isn't it her message yeah we are told

03:47

that the princess is feeling very

03:48

positive and is very hopeful of making a

03:50

full recovery I think anybody who has

03:53

just watched that video message they

03:54

will see her vulnerability in it and see

03:56

how difficult things have been with her

03:59

for her but I also think that it's

04:01

clearly been a very difficult time in

04:02

terms of speculation and rumor and that

04:04

video is Catherine in her own words done

04:07

in her own way and the hope is that she

04:10

will now be able to perhaps quell some

04:12

of that more outlandish rumor and

04:13

speculation about her condition a very

04:16

difficult time as well for the monarchy

04:17

isn't it the monarchy being all about

04:18

stability that's right it is a very

04:20

unstable time for the monarchy and the

04:22

British royal family at the moment we're

04:24

not going to see the prince princess of

04:26

wells for some time on any kind of

04:28

normal schedule of public duty

04:30

we're also not seeing the king very much

04:31

either as he is undergoing his own

04:33

cancer treatment so there are two key

04:36

significant figures from public life

04:38

missing and it is very noticeable but

04:40

the royal family say that both are doing

04:42

well they want to focus on their

04:43

recovery having some privacy and that

04:45

they will be back in business on world

04:46

Duty as soon as possible Daniela thank

04:48

you and you've been looking back over

04:50

the last few weeks and the impact that

04:51

all of this has been having on the royal

04:53

family let's see your report

04:57

now this was the last official footage

05:00

of the Princess of Wales with the royal

05:01

family on Christmas Day at Sandringham

05:04

with her three children who she is now

05:06

so Keen to protect after going public

05:08

with news of Her diagnosis back in

05:11

December all seemed well as she spoke to

05:13

the crowds thank you so much that's very

05:16

sweet of you to come and say hello to us

05:18

yeah very happy

05:20

Christmas but 3 weeks later she was

05:23

admitted to hospital for major abdominal

05:25

surgery it was in her postoperative

05:27

tests that signs of cancer were found

05:30

the clamor for information about the

05:32

princess's condition has been intense

05:34

this footage published earlier this week

05:36

filmed by a member of the public showed

05:38

her shopping in Windsor with her husband

05:40

last weekend and this photo released on

05:42

Mother's Day to ease some of the public

05:45

speculation did the opposite with the

05:47

princess issuing a statement to say she

05:49

had made some edits to the image a

05:52

turning point appears to have been this

05:54

Thanksgiving service in Windsor for King

05:56

Constantine of Greece at the end of

05:58

February the rest of the the royal

06:00

family were there but the Prince of

06:02

Wales pulled out that morning very

06:03

suddenly due to a personal matter we now

06:07

know this was around the time the

06:08

princess was diagnosed and began her

06:10

treatment it has been an incredibly

06:13

turbulent time for the family the

06:15

couple's priority has been to protect

06:17

their children and ensure they have time

06:20

to explain what's wrong to Prince George

06:22

princess Charlotte and Prince Louie they

06:25

now hope the speculation and rumors will

06:27

stop as they spend time privately as a

06:30

family for the Easter holiday the

06:32

princess won't be back to a full program

06:35

of public duty for some time we may see

06:37

her occasionally but only when her

06:40

medical team have approved for now the

06:43

Princess of Wales wants time space and

06:46

privacy to deal with her diagnosis and

06:49

Recovery Daniela Ralph BBC News well

06:54

let's talk to our medical editor Fergus

06:55

Walsh now as with King Charles we are

06:57

being given very little information

06:59

about what it exactly is that she's been

07:01

treated for but from the few details we

07:03

have what more can you tell us okay well

07:05

Sophie we we are not being told what

07:07

type of cancer this is nor what stage it

07:11

was caught at now both of those are

07:13

crucial factors and I'm not going to

07:15

speculate on either of those but the

07:18

tone of the Princess of Wales statement

07:21

is very positive in terms of recovery

07:24

what we have been told is that the

07:27

cancer was found after she had this

07:29

successful abdominal surgery and it was

07:32

discovered once the postoperative tests

07:35

had been completed and the results have

07:37

been reviewed now she is now undergoing

07:40

a course of what she described as

07:42

preventative chemotherapy that began

07:45

late last month now chemotherapy is an

07:48

umbrella term for any drug treatment to

07:52

kill cancer now it can either be given

07:54

to mop up any remaining cancer cells

07:58

that may remain behind once there's been

08:01

successful surgery to remove the cancer

08:04

or to ensure that the cancer doesn't

08:07

return in the future now it can be given

08:09

as an infusion but increasingly it can

08:12

be given in t as tablets daily tablets

08:15

and the treatment for cancer has

08:18

transformed in recent years much of uh

08:21

daily ta tablet treatment can be taken

08:24

at home um in terms

08:28

of the the future Catherine is stressing

08:31

she is well and getting stronger every

08:34

day she's 42 years old she's only just

08:37

turn 42 how unusual is it for a woman of

08:39

her age to be treated for cancer Li well

08:42

cancer touches the lives of every family

08:46

one in two of us will get cancer and it

08:49

is more common the older we get but

08:52

thousands of people every year are are

08:55

diagnosed at a younger age a thousand

08:57

people a day in in the UK are given a

09:01

cancer diagnosis now it is obviously a

09:05

huge shock a cancer diagnosis f for any

09:08

family but three million people in the

09:10

UK are living with cancer and I think

09:14

the message at the end when Katherine

09:17

urged others affected by cancer not to

09:20

lose Faith or hope I think that is a key

09:23

message this evening absolutely Fergus

09:25

wash our medical editor thank you well

09:29

let's talk to Helen Wilkinson our

09:30

correspondent who is in Windsor where

09:33

the family live and the Easter holidays

09:35

approaching and the princess of Welles

09:37

making it very clear that the focus very

09:38

much now for her is on her family at

09:42

home yes that's absolutely right Sophie

09:45

um the news here in Windsor a number of

09:47

tourists outside the castle are just

09:49

starting to hear about the news of the

09:51

princess of wales's uh cancer diagnosis

09:54

it will come as a shock across the world

09:57

but also to people who uh visit this

10:00

tourist town and also residents here

10:02

because as you say uh princess the

10:05

Princess of Wales and her family there

10:07

three young children uh live here in

10:09

Windsor at adelay cottage which is

10:11

around half a mile from where we live

10:14

and that very personal statement from

10:16

Katherine we've had in the last 10

10:18

minutes or so where she spoke about how

10:22

they've had to she and Prince William

10:24

have had to talk to their three young

10:25

children uh George Charlotte and Louie

10:29

uh in probably very careful words and uh

10:32

very wellth thought out words about her

10:34

cancer diagnosis because for young

10:36

children to hear that their mother has

10:39

cancer will no doubt be very devastating

10:42

and probably confusing as well so what

10:44

they'll be trying to do as a family is

10:47

uh stay very close of course and keep

10:49

very private uh here at their home in

10:52

Windsor they have been able to uh on the

10:54

whole while Katherine has been

10:56

recovering from what she has said this

10:58

evening has had been major abdom

11:01

abdominal surgery uh but they will

11:04

continue or she will continue her

11:06

recovery here in Windsor as you say

11:08

Sophie the Easter holidays just getting

11:10

underway for her three children and the

11:12

family felt like like this was the right

11:15

time to go public with the news but now

11:17

they clearly want space uh for her to

11:20

continue with the the preventative Cuma

11:23

therapy that she has uh been undertaking

11:26

started very recently Helena Wilkinson

11:29

in Windsor thank you very much and we

11:31

will of course return to that story

11:34

later