Princess of Wales was ‘fortunate' to survive cancer, according to shocking new claims
A veteran royal reporter in the UK has shed light on the severity of the Princess of Wales' illness.
It comes in the wake of the 43-year-old's unexpected absence this week from Royal Ascot, which raised concerns yet again about the state of her health.
According to Rebecca English it's a firm reminder that the 43-year-old is still in recovery and she was likely far sicker than she let on last year when she underwent abdominal surgery in January before announcing in March that she had cancer, the nature of which she has not publicly revealed.
'As I have previously revealed the princess was seriously unwell in the run-up to her surgery in the first place,' English, a long-standing royal correspondent in the UK with impeccable palace sources, wrote in the Daily Mail.
'And while that is a story only for her to tell – if she ever chooses to do so – I can say that, from what I understand, she is fortunate to even be speaking of recovery.
'So, while she may be glowing on the outside the drama over her last-minute non-attendance at Royal Ascot last week is, perhaps, a timely reminder that the princess was really very poorly not so long ago.
'And it's why, to quote the princess herself, this year remains one of 'balance'.'
In January Kate revealed she was in remission during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
She spent much of 2024 secretly visiting the hospital for her chemo treatment, where she was fitted with a semi-permanent 'port' in her chest.
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Her non-attendance at Ascot is part of her 'slow and steady' return to royal life, where her health remains a priority over royal duties.
It also comes after her back-to-back appearances at two major royal events – Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter.
'On some levels I actually think this is a good reminder that she was really seriously ill last year,' another source says.
'She underwent a significant period of chemo. As anyone who has been through that experience will tell you, you can feel very unwell for a long time afterwards. It can take years [to recover].'
It's believed Kate will not be making any more public appearances for the remainder of June.
It's thought she is 'highly likely' to make an appearance at Wimbledon, which starts on 30 June, in her role as royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
She is also set to play a 'significant' part in next month's visit by French President Emmanuel Macron at Windsor Castle.
After that she and Prince William along with their children – Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (10) and Prince Louis (7) will decamp to Anmer Hall, their country home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk for the start of the school's two-month summer break.
After that they are set to join King Charles and other senior royals at Balmoral Castle in August.
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