Princess Catherine, Princess of Wales, has said she feels “relieved” after completing cancer treatment.
“The past nine months have been extremely difficult for us as a family,” she said in a statement. “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and the uncharted path. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”
The statement was accompanied by a video showing Catherine with her husband and children.
She added that she “looks forward to getting back to work and doing some more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
The British princess, who is married to British heir Prince William, had been on sick leave since January, when she was admitted to hospital for “abdominal surgery.” No further details were given at the time.
In March, she revealed she had been diagnosed with an unspecified early-stage cancer after surgery and began preventive chemotherapy. Since then, she has rarely been seen in public, except for a brief appearance at the British Summer Time military parade in June, when she joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, and at Wimbledon, where she presented the winner Carlos Alcaraz with the trophy the following month.
Catherine’s absence comes at a difficult time for the British royal family, which is traditionally expected to carry out a number of ceremonial duties from ribbon-cutting to meetings with foreign heads of state throughout the year. Her father-in-law, King Charles III, was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer earlier in the year and has taken a step back while undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, the king’s younger brother, Prince Andrew, has been effectively banned from public life while his youngest son, Prince Harry, moves to the United States with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Read Catherine's full statement below:
As summer comes to a close, I can't begin to describe how relieved I feel to finally be done with my chemotherapy.
The past nine months have been extremely difficult for us as a family. Life as we know it can change in an instant, and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and the unknown.
The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.
With humility, it also puts you face to face with your vulnerabilities in a way you never thought of before, and with that, it puts you in a new perspective on everything.
This time has reminded William and I to reflect and be grateful for the simple, important things in life that we often take for granted. Like just love and being loved.
My focus now is to do my best to stay cancer-free. Although I have finished chemotherapy, I still have a long road to recovery and I have to continue to take each day as it comes.
However, I look forward to getting back to work and doing some more public engagements in the coming months when I can.
Despite everything that has happened, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation for life.
William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn so much strength from all those helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, compassion and compassion has been truly humbling.
To all those who continue their journey with cancer, I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. From darkness, light can come, so let that light shine.
