Catherine, Princess of Wales, is battling cancer. Shocking diagnosis.

After months of speculation, conspiracy theories, a scandal involving photos, and breaches of privacy, Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced that she has cancer. An unedited two-minute video filmed by the BBC shows Catherine sitting on a bench in the garden at Windsor Castle. "In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at that time, it was believed that my condition was benign," she said. "The surgery was successful. However, after the operation, the test results showed that cancer was present."

Like her father-in-law, the future queen refused to disclose the type of cancer and asked the public for "time, space, and privacy" to undergo chemotherapy.

January:

The dual health announcements shocked the House of Windsor. On Christmas Day 2023, everything seemed fine as King Charles took his family to the traditional church service near Sandringham estate. Catherine's last official appearance was at the church service on Christmas Day. But behind closed doors, two of the highest-ranking working members of the royal family were quietly preparing for separate health battles. On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine was in the hospital for a scheduled abdominal surgery. It was said that she would remain in the hospital for 10-14 days and would step back from royal duties until April to recover. Her husband, William, Prince of Wales, also confirmed that he would take a break to care for his wife and their three young children. Just 90 minutes later, King Charles announced that he too was facing health issues. The monarch stated that he would be treated for "an enlarged prostate" at the same London hospital as his sister-in-law. The dual announcements came as a huge shock to the British public, especially considering that Catherine required such a lengthy recovery. However, the focus on the Princess of Wales shifted a week later when the King announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

February:

The mysterious absence of William has sparked conspiracy theories. Charles began a "schedule of regular procedures" for cancer treatment on February 5, Buckingham Palace reported. He declined to specify the type of cancer and stated that it is not related to a prostate procedure.

March 10:

The retouching failure on Mother's Day caused a stir on the internet. Among the many online conspiracy theories speculating that the reason for Catherine's absence ranged from a Brazilian elevator to a marriage breakdown, Kensington Palace took action. On March 10, which is Mother's Day in the UK, a photo of the princess with her children was published, hoping that this image would put an end to the terrible rumors and serve as proof of her well-being. However, the next day, this clever maneuver turned into a PR disaster.

March 22:

The media receives an important call. On March 22, when most people were finishing their work week, several British news outlets received a call from Kensington Palace. They reported that a significant update on the princess's health would be made public within a few hours. A video message from Catherine was published shortly after. The timing of the announcement is crucial. Catherine and William's three children have just started their spring break, which means they can spend a few weeks at home without facing questions about their mother's health at school. "The most important thing for Catherine, as she stated in her announcement, is that she wants them to remain calm and to be told in a way that is appropriate," said royal commentator Juliet Rieden from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "All the information in the media can be fully explained to their parents. I’m sure it’s very difficult to tell your very young children that their mom is undergoing preventive treatment for cancer."