A Timeline of Kate Middleton’s Health Battle Amid Cancer: Princess Makes Rare Appearance

Princess Kate Middleton has been at the center of an onslaught of ​conspiracy theories since January 2024 due to her absence from the public eye. Palace officials announced that both Kate and King Charles III underwent medical procedures roughly around the same time, but while royal representatives gave a detailed update about Charles, they remained tight-lipped on the details of Kate’s surgery. However, on March 22, 2024, Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer and royal watchers want to know the full timeline of her health battle.

Kate Middleton’s Planned Abdominal Surgery Announced

On January 17, 2024, palace officials announced that Kate underwent a planned abdominal surgery the day prior.

“Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery,” the statement said. “The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”

The message continued, “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest the statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish is that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologize to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”

Princess Kate Returns Home to Recover

The Princess of Wales spent 13 days in the hospital before she was released to continue her recovery at home on January 29, 2024. Kensington Palace’s statement noted that Kate was “making good progress” and ​she thanked the staff at The London Clinic.

Kate Middleton Is Spotted for 1st Time Since Operation

On March 5, 2024, amid rampant speculation regarding the princess’ absence, Kate was finally spotted in a car with her mother, Carole Middleton. Internet sleuths immediately began dissecting the photo and several pointed out some potential swelling in Kate’s face, while others refused to believe it was her at all.

The Infamous Mother’s Day Photo

On March 10, 2024, a photo was shared on Kate and Prince William’s social media accounts that showed the princess sitting in a chair surrounded by her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. However, once again, critics began to point out parts of the picture that seemed to have been altered. On the following day, Kate addressed the image in question, as a kill notice regarding the image was issued to news outlets.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” Kate wrote via the official Kensington Palace X account. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William Spotted at Farmer’s Market

On March 16, 2024, Kate and William were seen at a local farmer’s market in a video shared by a man named Nelson Silva. However, the public was divided on whether or not it was actually the Prince and Princess of Wales in the video. TMZ was the first outlet to release the photo, but even their executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere began to question the legitimacy of the clip after it was released.

“Before I would say I was 95 percent when I first saw it. I was like, ‘Oh that’s her,’ and it certainly looks like William, but even the William some people are picking apart. That maybe it’s not him. There’s endless mystery behind this thing, and the bigger question is, if it’s not her, we’re left with, ‘Where is Kate and what is going on with her?’” Charles told Fox 5 on March 19, 2024.

Kate Middleton Reveals She Has Cancer

On March 22, 2024, Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer in a video to the public.

“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,” the princess began in her statement. “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 continued, “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.”

Prince William Gives an Update on Kate Middleton

After taking some time off ​following Kate’s diagnosis, William returned to his royal duties on April 18, 2024. As the Prince of Wales spent time at some local charities, he made a rare comment about his wife amid her cancer treatment.

“Prince William promised to ‘look after’ the Princess of Wales as he made his first public appearance since her cancer announcement,” Daily Mail editor Rebecca English reported via X on April 18, 2024.

Less than a month later, William visited St Mary’s Community Hospital on the Isles of Scilly and when employees at the facility inquired about Kate, he replied that the Princess of Wales was “doing well.”

Kensington Palace Shares Update on Kate Middleton’s Return to Work

On May 21, 2024, Kensington Palace provided a rare update on the Princess of Wales’ health and her return to royal duties. “The princess is not expected to return to work until it’s cleared by her medical team,” a spokesperson said, per BBC.

The statement came after The Telegraph reported in March that Kate was working from home on a project with the Center for Early Childhood focused on improving infants’ lives. Kensington Palace confirmed “overwhelmingly positive” results of a study the princess inspired on March 21, 2024. However, the following day, Kate announced her cancer.

Kate Middleton Makes Rare Comment Amid Private Cancer Battle

Despite staying out of the spotlight for several months, Kate made a rare comment when she released a statement on May 25, 2024, after Royal Air Force Pilot Mark Long died in a spitfire crash.

“Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby,” she and William wrote in a joint statement posted on their verified X account. “Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.”

Kate Middleton Makes 1st Public Appearance Amid Cancer Battle

The princess thrilled royal fans when she announced via Instagram on June 14, 2024, that she would be attending Trooping the Colour the following day, along with the rest of the working royal family members.

Kate also gave an update about how her treatments were going, telling followers that she hoped “to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.”

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she continued. “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.”

Kate looked glorious at Trooping the Colour in an upcycled white and black Jenny Packham dress. She rode in a carriage to and from Horse Guards Parade and stood alongside William and their three children on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Kate Middleton Makes Surprise Appearance at Wimbledon Men’s Finals

The princess didn’t announce whether or not she would be handing out trophies in the Wimbledon men’s and women’s finals at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, of which she is the patron.

After skipping the women’s final, Kate was met with a standing ovation when she entered the stadium and headed to the royal box on July 14, 2024. She was accompanied by her daughter, Princess Charlotte, as well as her sister, Pippa Middleton Matthews.

The royal looked stunning in a purple dress by Safiyaa and wore her hair long and flowing. Kate presented runner-up Novak Djokovic and winner Carlos Alcaraz with their trophies at center court, just as she has since 2019, and chatted with the players afterward.

Kate Middleton Ends Preventative Chemotherapy

After In Touch exclusively revealed Kate ended her preventative chemotherapy on September 9, 2024, she opened up about the milestone in a video statement that same day.

She explained that her health battle had been “tough” on her family, though said they are “grateful” for the things they have in life.

“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. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” Kate continued. “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.”

She added that her “path to healing and full recovery is long” and that she “must continue to take each day as it comes.”

“I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life,” Kate said. “William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.”

She concluded, “Out of darkness can come light, so let the light shine bright.”

Kensington Palace also explained Kate was not considered cancer-free and that she was subject to more tests.