You are not alone
Messages of support flood in for Princess of Wales after cancer diagnosis
Messages of support for the Princess of Wales have been shared by public figures across the area after she revealed she was being treated for cancer.
Princess Catherine has said her diagnosis came as a ‘huge shock’ following successful abdominal surgery in January, during a video announcement on Friday, March 22.
She added that she was now in the ‘early stages’ of a preventative course of chemotherapy and asked for ‘time, space and privacy’ while treatment was ongoing.
She closed her statement with the message: “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
The video announcement was filmed in Windsor Castle, near the Prince and Princess of Wales’ home in the Windsor Home Park estate.
It is not known what form of cancer is being treated but the
Princess said she hoped to be able to return to royal duties ‘when I am able’.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson has since said the Prince and Princess of Wales have been ‘enormously touched’ by support shown from across the world following Friday’s announcement.
Mayor of the Royal Borough, Councillor Neil Knowles shared his reaction to the Princess’ announcement.
On X (formerly Twitter) he said: “Thinking of HRH the Princess of Wales, and her family as they cope with this distressing news.
“From all at RBWM.”
The Combermere Barracksbased Welsh Guards also issued a statement, saying the regiment stands ‘in solidarity with [the Princess] during this challenging time and wish her the utmost strength and resilience in her ongoing treatment’.
It added: “To all those within our ranks and beyond who are touched by cancer, remember that you are not alone.”
A 70-year-old conman who defrauded charities in Slough and South Buckinghamshire has been given a 22-month jail sentence.
John Lancelot White, 70, of Worcester Road in Uxbridge was also ordered to pay a surcharge and forfeit 43 items at a Reading Crown Court hearing on Monday, March 18.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation, fraud by dishonestly failing to disclose information to make gain for oneself, two counts of theft and one count of fraud by abuse of position, at the same hearing.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Patrycja Lesiakowska said: “Unlike his namesake, John Lancelot White was far from a knight in shining armour.
“He targeted charities and individuals pertaining to be an honest individual, when actually all he was doing was looking to take advantage for his own personal gain.”
White defrauded a Slough-based charity which had paid him
£11,000 to provide security services for three months in 2017.
He claimed his company held a licence to provide security, however this was untrue.
White was charged and convicted of fraud by false representation with regards to this incident.
In 2020, while working as a treasurer for a charity in South Buckinghamshire, he fraudulently made transactions into his own bank account.
In his role, he had been responsible for the charity’s finances including paying his own wage and others.
He was charged and convicted of fraud by abuse of position.
White also told a man in his 70s, whom he met in a Slough pub in 2018, that he could help them purchase car insurance.
He then stole the man’s licence and used it to insure his own vehicles, as well as borrowing £80 which was never returned.
For this, White was charged and convicted of theft.
In addition, he stole £600 from a man in his 70s he met at a pub in Uxbridge, also during 2018.
He said he could offer this man a job at his security company but White took copies of the second man’s passport and driving licence and, again, used them to insure his own vehicles.
During this time, White had been disqualified from driving.
The fraud by dishonestly failing to disclose information for gain, relates to an incident in 2021 when White was stopped by officers in his vehicle. Checks were made and it was found that he failed to notify his insurance company that his licence had expired. DC Patrycja Lesiakowska added: “I would like to thank the victims who have supported our investigation and I am pleased that White has now been given a custodial sentence.
“Fraud is extremely damaging for individuals and for charities, often such investigations are complicated and challenging but as a force we will investigate and look to bring offenders before the courts to face justice.
“There are further details on our website about fraud and how people can report or get support if they’ve been a victim.”