Catherine, Princess of Wales, is being treated for cancer. This is how her shock diagnosis unfolded
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is being treated for cancer. ()
After months of speculation, conspiracy theories, a photo scandal and a privacy breach, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has revealed she has cancer.
The unedited, two-minute video shot by BBC Studios shows Catherine sitting on a bench in a garden at Windsor Castle.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and, at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she said.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”
Like her father-in-law, King Charles III, the future queen declined to reveal the type of cancer and she asked the public for “time, space and privacy” to complete chemotherapy.
But the revelation has helped to explain a turbulent few months within the House of Windsor.
“Everybody that I’ve spoken to about this is shocked — really shocked,” UK royal commentator Afua Hagan told the ABC.
“Especially in this time that we’re in now, where we have had weeks of swirling conspiracy theories, from the sublime to the ridiculous, from social media to front pages of newspapers, it’s honestly just been crazy.”
From Prince William’s sudden, unexplained withdrawal from a public appearance in February, to a quiet phone call to BBC Studios today, this is how the first few months of 2024 have unfolded for the royal family.
January: Twin health announcements rock the House of Windsor
On Christmas Day, 2023, all looked well as King Charles led his family to their traditional church service near Sandringham Estate.
But behind closed doors, two of the most senior working royals were quietly preparing for separate health battles.
On January 17, Kensington Palace revealed that Catherine was in hospital for “planned abdominal surgery”.
It said she would remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, and would step back from royal duties until April to recover.
Her husband William, the Prince of Wales, also confirmed he would be taking a break to take care of his wife and their three young children.
Just 90 minutes later, King Charles announced he also had a health scare.
The monarch said he would be treated for an “enlarged prostate” at the same London hospital as his daughter-in-law.
The twin announcements came as a huge shock to the British — especially since Catherine required such a long convalescence.
But the focus on the Princess of Wales shifted a week later when the king announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.
February: William’s mysterious absence sparks conspiracy theories
Charles began a “schedule of regular treatments” for cancer on February 5, according to Buckingham Palace.
He declined to reveal the type of cancer and said it was unrelated to the prostate procedure.
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said while the sovereign was stepping back from public appearances, he would continue to hold private meetings and complete his constitutional duties.
“Thankfully, this has been caught early,” he said.
During a regular meeting with the PM on February 21, Charles said he was deeply moved by the outpouring of love from his subjects.
“I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards … it’s reduced me to tears most of the time,” Charles said.
While Prince William was on light duties to take care of his family, he was expected to attend a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, in London on February 27.
But just 45 minutes before he was due to appear — and give a reading — Kensington Palace said William had to cancel due to a “personal matter”.
Several British outlets, including the BBC, have reported he was forced to pull out because of Catherine’s cancer, though it’s unclear if this was the day she received her diagnosis.
But in the absence of information, the internet erupted into a frenzy of speculation.
#WhereIsKate began trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, and “Where is Kate Middleton?” was one of the top Google searches for February.
A photo of a woman who looked like Catherine in the passenger seat of her mother’s car was published by US gossip site TMZ on March 4.
But the grainy image only seemed to add fuel to the fire as social media sleuths insisted it was her sister Pippa or a body double.
Still, Prince William remained tight-lipped.
“His focus is on his work and not on social media,” a spokesman told People magazine on March 6.
March: The Mother’s Day Photoshop failure breaks the internet
Amid a proliferation of online conspiracy theories — speculating that everything from a Brazilian butt lift to a marriage breakdown was the cause of Catherine’s absence — Kensington Palace took action.
On March 10, which is Mother’s Day in the UK, it released a photo of the princess with her children, hoping the image would put to bed the nasty rumours and serve as proof of life.
But the following day, its savvy manoeuvre turned into a PR catastrophe.
Several news agencies, including Reuters and AP, issued a “kill notice” on the photo to withdraw it, saying they had concerns about digital alterations.
Catherine took the blame and apologised on Instagram, explaining that as an “amateur photographer” she sometimes “experiments with editing”.
Amid a frenzy of speculation, US late show comedian Stephen Colbert joked on March 12 about the furore, referencing unfounded rumours that Prince William was in the throes of an extra-marital affair with a female aristocrat.
The woman has denied the claims through her lawyer, and reportedly sent a cease and desist to Colbert, according to Vanity Fair.
As they grappled with scary health news, Catherine and William found themselves in the unenviable position of being the internet’s main characters.
A stroll into an upscale grocery store in Windsor was filmed by a bystander on March 18, offering proof of life for some, but only providing more fodder for conspiracy theories for others.
Then came the news on March 19 that staff at the London Clinic where Catherine underwent surgery might have breached her privacy by trying to peek at her medical records.
Catherine and William decided it was time to take charge.
March 23: BBC Studios gets a big phone call
On the afternoon of March 23, as most people were winding down for the weekend, several British news outlets got a call from Kensington Palace.
They told them a significant update on the princess’ health would be made public in a matter of hours.
Perhaps in an attempt to avoid any claims of footage manipulation or AI shenanigans, Kensington Palace invited BBC Studios, the production arm of the national broadcaster, to film Catherine’s video message.
The timing of the announcement is significant.
Catherine and William’s three children have just begun their Easter break, which means they can spend a few weeks at home without having to field questions about their mother’s health at school.
“The most important thing for Catherine, as she has said in her statement, is that she wants to keep them calm, and tell them in a way that is appropriate,” ABC royal commentator Juliet Rieden said.
“All the coverage in the media can be fully explained by their parents to the children. I’m sure it’s a very difficult thing telling your very young children that your mother is undergoing preventative cancer treatment.”
The couple’s hand may have also been forced by another looming occasion.
Easter Sunday, this year falling on March 31, is usually a highlight of the royal calendar, with all senior working royals attending a church service together.
Speculation was mounting in the British press that Catherine would choose this event to make her comeback.
But the Princess of Wales has confirmed she would like a little more time at home, hopefully ending the speculation in the process.
“The Princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team. She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery,” a palace spokesperson said.
ABC
