Princess Catherine of Wales announces she has cancer

The British Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition criticize the "scrutiny" and "speculation" around the princess

Princess Catherine of Wales announced this Friday that she is receiving "preventive chemotherapy" after being diagnosed with cancer after being hospitalized for abdominal surgery on January 17.

"In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, post-operative tests found that there was cancer," he explained in a statement. video statement on the official X account of Kensington Palace.

Princess Catherine, 42, has detailed that she is in the first stage of treatment. "This, of course, has been a huge shock," she said, adding that both she and her husband, Prince William and heir to the throne, have needed time to explain the situation to her three children.

"I also think of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For all those who face this disease, in any form, do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone," he said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has conveyed his support to the Princes of Wales, as well as their children, during this "difficult time", while also expressing "love and support for the entire nation as it recovers". "He has shown tremendous courage with his statement today," he said.

"In recent weeks she has been the subject of intense scrutiny and has been treated unfairly by certain sectors of the media around the world and on social media. When it comes to health, like everyone else, she should have the privacy to focus on his treatment and being with his beloved family," he added.

The leader of the British opposition, Keir Starmer, has sent his best wishes, on behalf of the Labor Party, to Princess Catherine and Prince William, as well as the entire Royal Household as they support her during her treatment and recovery.

"Any cancer diagnosis is a shock, but I can't imagine the added stress of receiving that news amidst the terrible speculation we have seen in recent weeks. Their Majesties deserve privacy and, like other parents, hope to choose the best time to tell your children," he stressed.

For her part, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her best wishes to both the princess and her family and friends at a press conference. "We certainly wish him a full recovery," she said.

This comes after days of speculation about her health after an image came to light of her standing next to Prince William as she left a store, visibly thin, and after she publicly acknowledged that she had retouched a photograph published with occasion of Mother's Day.

The Princess of Wales published a short text on social media in which she apologized and in which she stated that "like many amateur photographers," she experimented with editing from time to time. Several news agencies removed the photograph of her from their services.

When announcing the admission, Kensington Palace had limited itself to saying that the princess had been successfully operated on, in a brief statement in which it also asked for respect for family privacy. According to this first note, it was not planned that she would resume her official agenda until after Easter.

Buckingham Palace announced in a statement in early February that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer during treatment for a prostate problem. The 75-year-old monarch ascended to the British throne after the death in September 2022 of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, after more than 70 years of reign.