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Ellen Manning
King Charles has said he is 'proud' of the Princess of Wales after she revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy.
In an emotional video message recorded on Wednesday and released on Friday, Kate said it had come as a "huge shock" and that she and William were doing "everything to manage this privately for the sake of our young family".
The announcement follows a prolonged period of absence from public life as she recovered from abdominal surgery in January, which at times sparked unfounded speculation over her health issues. She has not revealed what type of cancer she has.
She said in the video that her cancer was discovered only after she underwent major abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, adding: “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment."
Following controversy over her digitally-altered Mother's Day photo, Kate was subsequently pictured in public on a handful of occasions, including at a farm shop in Windsor last weekend, but she has yet to made a return to official public duties.
King Charles said he is "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did” and remains in the “closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.
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