LONDON, Sept 9 (Askume) – Britain’s Princess Kate of Wales said on Monday she had completed a course of preventive chemotherapy for cancer, saying the treatment had given her a new perspective and made her grateful “simply to love and be loved.”
Kate, 42, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, underwent major abdominal surgery in January and was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
In an intimate video of herself with her husband and three young children — Princess Charlotte, 9, Prince George, 11, and 6-year-old Louis — Kate said in a personal message that she will have a baby carrier later this year for a public event.
But he cautioned the road to full recovery would be a long one and that his focus was on staying cancer-free.
“As the summer comes to an end, I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to finally be free from chemo,” she said in the message.
“The last nine months have been extremely difficult for our family. As you know, life can change in an instant, and we have had to find a way to navigate the storms and unknowns.”
Kate spent two weeks in hospital following surgery in January and two months later she announced in a video message that tests revealed she had cancer.
Her office, Kensington Palace, declined to give the type of cancer or other details about her treatment, except that preventive chemotherapy began in February.
In June, before attending the Wimbledon tennis championships , she made her first public appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour parade to celebrate the official birthday of King Charles .
‘Horrible’
“The cancer journey is complicated, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said.
“Along with humility, it also allows you to face your vulnerabilities in a way you may not have considered before, giving you a new perspective on everything.
“This time starts with reminding William and I to appreciate and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life that many of us often take for granted. Just love and be loved.”
King Charles, 75, who is also undergoing treatment for cancer, and his wife, Camilla, regarded Kate’s announcement on Monday as “great news”, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
The spokesperson added that they will continue to offer their full love, thoughts and support to the Princess as she makes a full recovery.
The princess appeared to be in good health in footage filmed in Norfolk, eastern England, last month.
In the film, the family runs through fields and forests with cricket bats and balls, while Kate and William lie on the beach holding each other’s hands. In other videos, she pushes Louis on a swing and her parents play a game of cards with her.
She said she and William were grateful for messages of support from around the world, adding that she looked forward to returning to public office whenever possible, though her plans for the rest of the year remained light.
“Right now my focus is on doing everything I can to remain cancer-free. Although I have completed chemotherapy, the road to recovery and full recovery is still long and I must live each day,” said the oft-quoted princess, whose maiden name is Kate Middleton.
“Despite everything that has happened, I am entering this new phase of recovery with renewed hope and gratitude for life… To all of you who are continuing your cancer journey – I am with you, hand in hand as we come into the darkness.” So let that light shine.
