In a surprising announcement, Princess Kate, the wife of Prince William and the Princess of Wales, revealed in a video message that she has been diagnosed with cancer. The news comes two months after she underwent a major abdominal surgery, with the cancer being discovered in post-operative tests.

The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed by the palace, but Princess Kate has already begun her chemotherapy treatment since late February. This announcement coincides with her father-in-law, King Charles, also receiving cancer treatment, although the nature of his cancer remains undisclosed.

In the video message, filmed at Windsor on Wednesday, the 42-year-old princess admitted that the diagnosis came as a huge shock to her and her husband. She expressed their commitment to managing it privately while prioritizing their young family's well-being. Princess Kate had taken time to recover from the major surgery before commencing her treatment.

The cancer was detected during the post-operative tests conducted after her abdominal surgery, which took place in mid-January. At that time, it was believed that her condition was non-cancerous. Although the surgery was successful, subsequent tests confirmed the presence of cancer, leading her medical team to advise her on undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

Despite the lack of specific details about her condition, Kensington Palace had initially stated that her condition was non-cancerous after the surgery. The royal family has since provided limited information about Princess Kate's health.

In the video, Princess Kate mentioned the challenge of explaining the situation to her children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, and continuing to reassure them about her recovery. She expressed gratitude for the support of her husband, Prince William, whose presence has been a source of comfort.

Princess Kate emphasized the need for time, space, and privacy as she focuses on her treatment and recovery. She acknowledged her deep joy in her work and expressed her intention to return to official duties once cleared by her medical team. In the meantime, she urged those affected by cancer to hold onto hope and reminded them that they are not alone.

This announcement by Princess Kate comes after a recent controversy surrounding a photo shared on Mother's Day in the United Kingdom. The image, which showed her with her three children, was retracted by several international news agencies, including The Associated Press and Reuters, who believed it had been edited. Princess Kate later admitted to experimenting with editing and apologized for any confusion caused.

As Princess Kate battles her cancer, her father-in-law, King Charles, is also undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. The diagnosis was made public on February 5th, after he had previously been treated for benign prostate enlargement. The specific treatment for King Charles has not been revealed, but British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned that it was caught early.

This is an ongoing and developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.