Princess Kate: Five unanswered questions about cancer battle we may never know answers to

Princess Kate has been praised for the way she has handled the news of her cancer, with experts hailing the amount of information she has shared with the public. Princess Kate’s revelation she is undergoing treatment for cancer has sparked an outpouring of support and well wishes from around the world. In an emotional video message, Kate spoke about the “huge shock” she felt after tests identified cancer following her abdominal surgery and the “incredibly tough couple of months” her family has experienced.

King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, is said to be “proud” of his “beloved” daughter-in-law for her “courage” in speaking about her treatment and has remained in close contact during the past few weeks. While the Princess’s health update may for now have brought an end to rife online speculation, it has also raised questions about when Kate found out, what type of cancer she has and whether wild rumours on social media prompted the unprecedented video.

When did Princess Kate find out she has cancer?

The Princess of Wales said in the video released by Kensington Palace that it was believed her condition wasn’t cancerous when she underwent abdominal surgery in January. Kate explained how tests after her operation showed cancer had been present and that her medical team advised she should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy. She is now in the early stages of that treatment, with the royal mother of three explaining it has taken time to recover from major surgery and start chemotherapy. The princess was admitted to hospital on January 16.

The Waleses appear to have waited until the Easter holidays to share the news with their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis. Kate said: “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.” While the public may never know, and possibly doesn’t need to know, it is understood Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, after Kate’s diagnosis. At the time of the service on February 27, Kensington Palace said William’s decision not to attend was due to a “personal matter”, but gave no further details.

What type of cancer is Princess Kate being treated for?

The Princess of Wales’s cancer announcement is the latest health scare to hit the Royal Family in the past year, including King Charles, who is also being treated for the disease. Buckingham Palace confirmed in February that King Charles had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer. It was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

The palace says it will not share any further private medical information, including the type of cancer Kate is being treated for. The approach contrasts with that taken by Sarah, Duchess of York, who announced her own medical procedure at the beginning of the year. She revealed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. It was her second cancer diagnosis within a year, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer which led to her undergoing a mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery. Cancer charities have praised both Princess Kate and King Charles for speaking out about their cancer diagnoses. When the King entered hospital for treatment for an enlarged prostate earlier this year, it prompted a surge in public interest in the condition.

What kind of treatment is Princess Kate having?

Kate’s revelation she is undergoing cancer treatment prompted an outpouring of support and praise for the level of detail she made public. The form of cancer has not been disclosed, but the future Queen began a course of “preventative chemotherapy” late in February. She is said to have a positive mindset for her recovery. Chemotherapy is a term which applies to a range of cancer medicines. It uses drugs to attack tumours and it is often administered to shrink a tumour before surgery or to target cancer directly.

The drugs attack cancer cells, which divide more than healthy ones, and are given through an IV drip or in tablet form. There are more than 100 types of chemotherapy drugs. Patients who undergo chemotherapy often take other drugs to mitigate some of the side effects. Dr Mangesh Thorat, Deputy Director of the Barts Clinical Trials Unit at the Centre for Cancer Prevention at Queen Mary University, told Sky News: “It was a very well-crafted statement and very well-delivered. I think it was very balanced. It provided the information that people wanted to know.

“It kept the private information private and it also gave an important message to the public, that we are in it together.” Kensington Palace is not commenting on the length of the course, how often she is having treatment or where. A Palace spokesman said William and Kate understand the interest the update will generate and are grateful for the public support they have received throughout this period. He added: “Kensington Palace will provide information, when the time is right, and the Princess is able to restart work and her duties. In the meantime, we would ask that the family’s privacy is respected.”

Who did Princess Kate tell before the news was made public?

Princess Kate will obviously have told family and friends of her cancer diagnosis, although it is understood the future Queen and Prince William waited until their children were out of school before sharing the news with them. King Charles and Queen Camilla were made aware of Kate’s cancer diagnosis, and that the Princess’s video was being released. Kate’s brother James Middleton posted a message of support on Instagram: “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too”.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, wished the Princess of Wales “health and healing”. The couple said on Friday they hoped Kate and her family would be “able to do so privately and in peace”. They released the short statement a few hours after the Princess’s medical development was made public, however, the Sussexes reportedly had “no idea” about Kate’s diagnosis before the announcement.

Did online conspiracy theories prompt the announcement?

Kate’s video address to the nation followed days of speculation after a “manipulated” photo of the princess with her children was posted on social media. Cruel online trolls targeted the senior royal while elements of the press outside Britain fuelled speculation about Kate’s whereabouts and health. Kate’s absence from public life, following her abdominal surgery, led to wild conspiracy theories on social media. Kensington Palace has not responded to the wild, online rumours, instead taking a dignified approach.

The online speculation increased after irregularities were spotted in a Mother’s Day photograph of Kate and her children, which led to the Princess admitting to “editing” the image and apologising for any “confusion” caused.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said speculating about Kate’s health was “wrong” and “village gossip”, earlier this week. It may never be known whether the Palace issued the video to quash further speculation in a bid to protect the Princess and her family at what will be a difficult time.