When Kate Middleton underwent her abdominal surgery in January, it was initially believed was that she would be back to royal duty after Easter. However, everything changed in February when she received her cancer diagnosis, which was announced to the public in March.
King Charles and the Princess of Wales are both undergoing treatment for their respective diagnoses, though, when they will be back on royal duty is not yet known. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Kate still did some royal work from her hospital bed at the London Clinic.
Although we don’t know when Kate Middleton will be back performing her royal duties, now, several weeks after her cancer diagnosis was first announced, one royal expert claims she could be back sooner than expected. It is undoubtedly leaving royal fans with a lot of hope.
On March 22, Kate Middleton revealed that she is undergoing “preventative chemotherapy.” The cancer diagnosis announcement, which was published as a video through the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media channels, left many royal fans worldwide shocked.
Kate Middleton
Kate chose not to share what kind of cancer she is battling. However, as she underwent abdominal surgery in January, it could be a clue as to where it began.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team, therefore, advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” Kate Middleton said in the video, filmed in the garden at Windsor.
“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. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.”
Since her abdominal surgery in mid-January, Kate Middleton has been absent from royal duties. As King Charles received his cancer diagnosis in January – and the Prince of Wales at first was expected to be back to royal duty after Easter – many believed she would be taking on a lot more responsibility together with Queen Camilla and her husband, Prince William. Kate spent 13 days at the London Clinic after her abdominal surgery.
Kate Middleton sent letter to grieving widow from her hospital bed
The private hospital in central London, just one hour’s car ride from Windsor, was opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932 and has become a hospital many celebrities have visited.
Kate Middleton isn’t the only royal family member to have been a patient there. In 1980, Princess Margaret was treated at the London Clinic to have a benign skin lesion removed, and in 2013, Prince Philip underwent what was described as an “abdominal investigation.”
Although Kate, of course, didn’t perform any royal engagements in public while recovering at the London Clinic, it’s reported that she didn’t entirely distance herself from her work.
In early February, Kate Garraway, whose husband, television host Derek Draper, passed away in January following complications from COVID-19, appeared on Good Morning Britain, revealing that members of the public, as well as Kate Middleton, had sent her a letter with condolences.
“And from the royal family — Catherine and William sent a beautiful letter, and I know Catherine has been in hospital herself,” Garraway said.
“Even the King — because there is somebody [who] knows about grief — that anticipatory grief where you know something has a risk of happening and how different it is when it does happen.” Kate Garraway was not the only one receiving a letter from Kate Middleton during this time.
Kate sent royal fan ‘thank you’ note after surgery
On April 6, X user @AllemarieHoll1 left royal fans with melted hearts with a story of how she received a letter from Kensington Palace, the office of the Prince and Princess of Wales. In January, she and her family sent a card to Kate Middleton following her abdominal surgery and got a response.
“Back in January, when we were informed our beautiful Princess of Wales had undergone surgery, I sent her a card with our (my family and I) sincerest best wishes for healing and, of course, an abundance of love,” she wrote as reported by Express. “Today, I received this beautiful acknowledgment, and I can honestly say I shall treasure this my entire life.”
The thank you card to her and her husband had Kensington Palace printed at the top and stated, “Thank you for your kind well wishes to Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. Your thoughtful gesture is very much appreciated.”
Moreover, the user joked that her husband thought they had been invited to a royal garden party.
“The envelope has Kensington Palace on the back lol hubby thought he was going to have to get his suit out for a garden party (silly him) but he is just as blown away as I am to received this beautiful, and much treasured card. Continued prayers and healing to our beautiful Princess of Wales,” X user @AllemarieHoll1 continued.
Royal fans quickly responded to the X user’s beautiful story, praising Kate Middleton for her response.
Queen Camilla broke silence on Kate Middleton before Easter
One user wrote, “Wow this is such a beautiful response… You have a beautiful heart to have sent her a card which I’m sure meant so much… How can one find her address… I’d like to send one too…”
Another added, “How very special, dear friend. Your kindness was appreciated.”
Royal fans worldwide have sent Kate Middleton their best wishes in this very challenging time. Unsurprisingly, both the Princess of Wales and King Charles decided not to attend church on Easter Sunday, and for the Easter week, Camilla took on royal engagements herself.
During a visit to Shrewsbury, she met many royal fans at a farmer’s market. There, Camilla, for the first time, spoke about Kate after the cancer diagnosis announcement – when two young girls gave the queen a sign.
It read, “Send our love to Kate,” and was decorated with hearts, stars, and other cute drawings.
Queen Camilla, of course, stayed when she saw the sign. According to royal expert Rebecca English, she told the young girls, “I know that Catherine is thrilled by all the kind wishes and support.”
Both Kate Middleton and King Charles are receiving tremendous support from their royal family members while they are undergoing cancer treatment. Meanwhile, one royal expert claims that it isn’t the members of the loyal family whom she is leaning on for support but her parents and siblings.
Kate Middleton’s parents are “the real anchors in her life,” royal expert says
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, royal expert and author Katie Nicholl said that the Princess of Wales has turned to her family for love and support.
“She has a really tight group of friends and, particularly in Norfolk, really close friends there. But I think the real anchors in her life are her parents… and her brother James… and her sister Pippa,” she said.
“While you certainly don’t see them photographed together very often, they are very much there in the background. They are absolutely fundamental.”
Katie Nicholl continued by explaining that Kate Middleton’s parents felt “very relieved” that their daughter’s cancer was found in its early stages.
“Catherine is going to have the very best doctors in the world looking after her, so she’s in safe hands,” Katie Nicholl added. “Carol and Michael, they’ve always been an incredibly strong couple and also very down to earth… what they’ll be doing right now is they’ll be coming together and supporting her — and not just William and Kate, [but] their grandchildren, too.”
Carole and Michael Middleton didn’t share an official message after their daughter’s shocking cancer announcement in March. However, her brother, James, did. In an emotional post on Instagram, James Middleton shared his support for his sister, together with a picture of the two as kids.
“Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too,” James captioned the post.
Kate Middleton will most likely not be back on official royal duty for quite some time. However, it’s important to point out that we don’t know the exact details of her current health status.
Royal expert says Kate Middleton could “attend certain events” during cancer treatments
Although we don’t know exactly what will happen in the coming months, positive updates are always appreciated. GB News royal correspondent Cameron Walker now claims that the Princess of Wales might be closer to reappearing in public than anyone could have expected, saying that she “might attend certain events” moving forward.
“Because of the princess’ cancer diagnosis, she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy at the moment. What I am hearing from those close to the princess is that she may well decide to attend certain events if she feels up to it and if she’s keen to go,” Cameron Walker said.
“But in terms of a return to full-scale public duties and as a full-time working royal, I suspect that’s some time to come yet. But perhaps, maybe we’ll see her at some point this summer.”
The royal expert concluded, “But it just honestly depends on how her treatment goes.”
