Kate Middleton announces end of chemo but two major questions remain on everyone’s minds
LONDON, ENGLAND: Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced the completion of her chemotherapy six months after sharing that she was diagnosed with cancer, through a heartfelt video posted on Instagram on Monday, September 9.
However, as people rejoiced in the recovery of the royal, they were still left in the dark over the details of her health battle and whether she would be able to return to her royal duties.
View this post on Instagram
Kate Middleton's video message
"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," Kate, 42, said in a video message that was reportedly shot by photographer Will Warr and shared by the Kensington Palace.
According to ABC News, the footage was captured in August in Norfolk, and it shows Kate along with her husband Prince William, and their three children playing outside and enjoying a picnic together.
The #PrincessOfWales has spoken of her “renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life” as she revealed that she has completed chemotherapy treatment for cancer. #KateMiddleton shared the news via poignant footage of her with her family, who have been supporting her over the last… pic.twitter.com/GmcJhEZkWt
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) September 9, 2024
"The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," expressed Kate, sharing that the journey had been "complex, scary, and unpredictable."
"This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved," she later added.
What kind of cancer was Princess Kate diagnosed with?
Kate Middleton had announced being diagnosed with cancer in March after reportedly going through a "planned abdominal surgery" in January. Since then, the royals have not shared the details of the ailment with the public, including what type of cancer Kate faced and the exact treatment that she underwent.
It was also announced that the princess was being treated with preventative chemotherapy. In her video, Kate stated, "Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes."
After Kate made her cancer diagnosis public, HuffPost reported a Kensington Palace spokesperson stating, “We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The princess has a right to medical privacy as we all do."
Will Princess Kate return to her royal duties?
"Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes," Kate shared in her recently released video, which led to concern over whether the princess would be able to perform her royal duties anytime soon.
"I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can," she added.
Patrick Jephson, the former private secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, reportedly told Vanity Fair in July, "Without Catherine, it all seems rather flat. The future of the monarchy is William and Catherine."
"And, as we know from any superficial study of the British royal family, it’s the women who pull the show together, who get out there and make things happen. So how fragile is the monarchy? Well, it’s as fragile as Catherine is and at the moment, we don’t know," he observed.
