‘I’m looking forward to being back ...but now I must focus on making a full recovery’
THE Princess of Wales started preventative chemotherapy in late February, shortly after tests revealed she had cancer.
Details of the type of cancer have not been disclosed and aides would not say how long the course of treatment would last.
However, Kensington Palace said it is confident that Kate will make a full recovery.
In her heartfelt video statement, the future Queen revealed that she would have to take a break from royal duties to focus on her recovery. She also asked that the family “need some time, space and privacy” while she undergoes treatment.
Aides gave no indication of when Kate’s return to royal duties could be but it is understood that there are no plans for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family to attend the Easter Sunday church service next week.
It had been hoped that Kate would attend the annual Windsor service.
Last year the couple’s youngest child Prince Louis made his debut at the private family event, alongside his siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
However, the Wales family are focused firmly on safeguarding their children, with William set to take a break from royal duties over the holiday.
His children, who attend Lambrook School in Windsor, will have just under four weeks off, returning on Wednesday April 17.
The heir to the throne is expected to return to royal duties from that date, as he balances supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties – something he has done since her operation in January.
In her statement to the nation, Kate emphasised that her husband has been “a great source of comfort and reassurance” throughout her diagnosis and recovery.
It also emerged yesterday that William’s sudden absence from a memorial service in late February was because of the discovery of his wife’s cancer diagnosis.
He had been due to attend a memorial service of his godfather the late King Constantine of Greece on February 27 but pulled out at the last minute.
However, it is not known when the princess was told about the positive test for cancer.
Reports had emerged that Kate had been hoping to return to work at the same time as her husband, after the Easter holidays but she will now be taking a leave of absence indefinitely.
Yet is also understood she may be keen to attend events as and when she feels able to, in line with medical advice, although this will not indicate a return to full-time duties.
Last month the Ministry of Defence got in hot water after its website claimed Kate would be attending a Trooping the Colour event this summer. It said she would be present at a review event on June 8 in text on its website.
Her name was promptly removed after it emerged Kensington Palace had not confirmed her attendance.
No other future engagements for the Princess of Wales had been scheduled.
In the meantime, Kate is said to be “in high spirits” and firmly focused on her recovery. It comes as the top private hospital where she was treated before her cancer diagnosis was investigated for a royal data breach this week.
The Daily Mirror reported that at least one worker at the clinic had looked at her medical records without authorisation.
A probe was launched into the hospital which has a long-standing history of treating royals, actors and politicians. The London Clinic’s chief executive, Al Russell said “all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken”. The UK’s privacy and data watchdog,
the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), said: “We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.”
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the alleged incident.
The King, who is undergoing treatment for a form of cancer, was also treated at the centre for an enlarged prostate this year.
The London Clinic was officially opened by the then-Duke and Duchess of York in 1932.
It was the brainchild of a group of Harley Street doctors who set out to plan a new nursing home using the highest medical standards of the day. The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991. The late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.
Past patients include the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Princess Margaret and former US president John F Kennedy.
The facility said it could treat 154 conditions, including multiple types of cancer, with hundreds of treatments, tests and scans available.