Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis – everything we know from treatment to royal return

Princess Kate shocked the world on Friday, March 22, when she bravely shared a video personally addressing the public about her recent cancer diagnosis. She received her diagnosis after tests were carried out following abdominal surgery in January which "found cancer had been present".

Kate said it came as a "huge shock" for her and Prince William, and the couple have been trying to manage things privately for the sake of their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

Keeping positive, Princess Kate revealed she is "getting stronger every day" as she focuses on her treatment and undergoes preventative chemotherapy.

In a later update on June 14 announcing her attending at this year's Trooping the Colour, the future Queen revealed that there are "good days and bad days", the latter of which can leave her feeling "tired and weak".

Since the shock announcement in March, the Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to be "deeply grateful" for wishes they have received from all over the world.

Here Express.co.uk takes you through everything we know about Kate's illness and what it means for the British Royal Family.

What type of cancer does Princess Kate have?

No details have been disclosed about the type of cancer Princess Kate has.

On January 17, the news of Princess Kate’s pre-planned abdominal surgery was first announced by Kensington Palace, who revealed she had been hospitalised and the public was told the condition was "non-cancerous'.

The palace never specified what the surgery was for, but at the time, they did note her recuperation period meant we would not likely see the Princess of Wales again until after Easter 2024. Following the surgery, Kensington Palace stated the operation was "successful" Kate remained in hospital for around 13 days to recover.

In Kate's first statement, she revealed that post-operative tests had found cancer was present. But aides have not disclosed what form of cancer she has.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do."

What treatment is Princess Kate having?

The Princess of Wales is receiving preventative chemotherapy, stating she now needs time, space, and privacy to complete her treatment and make a full recovery.

Chemotherapy after surgery aims to lower the risk of cancer coming back in the future, and is called adjuvant treatment, according to Cancer Research UK.

The charity says chemotherapy circulates through the body, and kills off cancer cells that break away from a tumour before the operation and travel to other parts of the body.

Doctors may suggest chemotherapy if there is a chance that cancer has already spread or might spread in the future.

The treatment can be given in several ways including intravenously or orally, but can have a range of unpleasant side effects.

What has Kensington Palace said about Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis?

A Kensington Palace spokesperson has reiterated "the Princess has a right to medical privacy" and further private medical information will not be shared.

Saturday’s statement from the palace added Kate and William were "grateful" that the public understood their request for privacy but also said they were "enormously touched" by the kind messages received.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: "The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness' message.

"They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time."

When will Princess Kate return to royal duties?

At the time of the initial announcement, Kensington Palace stated that when the time is right, and the Princess is able to restart work and duties the Palace will provide further information.

Following Kate's second update on her health, where she announced she will be attending Trooping the Colour, it was understood that her appearance would not mean a return to a full schedule of public engagements and that Kate will attend events as and when she feels able to, with the support of her medical team.

In the meantime, the Palace has continuously asked for the family’s privacy to be respected.

Will Prince William take a break from royal duties?

Prince William initially took a short break from royal duties after Kate’s initial abdominal surgery but has continued with royal duties since.

As a guest of honour at the London Air Ambulance gala earlier in the year, at the Raffles Hotel in London, he first broke his silence and made a reference to King Charles's and Princess Kate’s health.

He told his audience: "I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all."

After Kate’s brave cancer reveal in March, Kensington Palace stated: "The Prince will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since the start of the year."

The Prince of Wales carried out several engagements since then, including during the 2024 D-Day commemorations.

After the announcement in June, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said that William is "pleased to see The Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her. He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties."

How did Princess Kate tell Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis?

The mother of three has expressed her children are her top priority and that it has taken time to explain everything to her children.

She highlighted how the family had been privately processing the news, including William who has been attending the majority of his public appearances, apart from King Constantine’s memorial service, which we now know was linked to the Princess of Wales’s health.

In order to continue a sense of normality and reassure their children, especially following the royal's hospital stay in January, Kate and William first digested the news themselves before sitting down with their kids to explain the situation.

Kate said in her video: “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.

“As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.

The three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have continued to attend Lambrook School, and will now be on their Easter break.

It is understood both William and Kate are fully involved in carrying out the school runs and trying to maintain a level of normality.

What did Princess Kate say in her video and second health update?

A full transcript from Princess Kate’s video addressing the public with her diagnosis, is below:

"I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.

"It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

"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."

"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.

"As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.

"Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.

"We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.

"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.

"At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."

Kate's full second update on her health, published in June, is as follows:

"I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me."

*This article was updated on June 14 with more information on the Princess of Wales's health, following her second announcement.