Support pours in for Princess Kate after cancer treatment announcement

The first lady added "we love you" in a post on X, signed "Jill."

Kate, the Princess of Wales, said Friday that she is in the early stages of “preventative chemotherapy” for cancer that was found following abdominal surgery in January. 

Kate did not say what type of cancer doctors found, or how advanced it was. But cancer doctors say that, in general, preventive or, more specifically, “adjuvant” chemotherapy is quite common following surgery that finds cancer.

“It’s almost like an insurance policy,” said Dr. Andrea Cercek, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “The person has had surgery to remove all the cancer that is visible, and then we give chemotherapy to try to eliminate or get rid of any remaining cells that might be in the body but are too small to be seen.” 

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"In this difficult period you are going through, Brigitte and I wish you a full recovery," Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said on X, adding, "Your strength and resilience inspire us all."

In a post on Instagram featuring Princess Kate and her brother, James Middleton, as children, Middleton wrote: "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too ⛰️❤️"

"The thoughts of everyone at the All England Club are with our Patron HRH The Princess of Wales, HRH The Prince of Wales and their family at this time," a post on the Wimbledon X account said.

"We wish The Princess of Wales the very best as she takes the time she needs to make a full recovery," the statement added.

In a comment on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram post featuring Princess Kate's cancer treatment announcement, Ivanka Trump said she is "sending love and prayers to you and your family."

"We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace," Prince Harry and Meghan said in a statement.

NBC News' Molly Hunter breaks down the reasons why Princess Kate may have waited as long as she did to share that she's undergoing treatment for cancer.

For one, Kate needed time to recover following major abdominal surgery in January that the palace said was planned.

Second, she has been processing the news of a cancer diagnosis with her husband, Prince William, as the pair comes to terms with what this means for the otherwise healthy 42-year-old.

And finally, perhaps most importantly, Kate was waiting for the right moment to tell her young kids about her situation to make sure they understood and that she is and will be OK. Notably, Kate wanted her kids to hear the news from her, not from media reports or the rumor mill.

"My thoughts are with the Princess of Wales, her children, and the entire Royal Family following the news of her cancer so courageously shared," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X.

"On behalf of Canadians, I’m sending my support as she undergoes treatment. We’re all wishing her a swift recovery."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered thoughts on Princess Kate at her news briefing today.

“We just heard the terrible news,” Jean-Pierre said moments after Princess Kate's announcement.

“Our thoughts are with the Duchess of Cambridge and her family members and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” Jean-Pierre said.

She added that she wishes the princess a "full recovery" and joined the calls to respect her privacy during this time.

Jean-Pierre said she found out about the royal news the same way the public did and she didn't have anything to share regarding conversations between President Joe Biden and the royals.

“We are incredibly sad to hear of the news,” Jean-Pierre said. “We are taking this in, this terrible news, as all of you are.”

King Charles III is "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did," according to a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace.

The statement from the palace added that since Charles and Kate were in the hospital together earlier this year, Charles has "remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks."

Charles and Queen Camilla "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time," according to the palace.

NBC News royal contributor Katie Nicholl comments on how Kate Middleton’s video message will put conspiracy theories to an end and allow the public to take on a protective role.

Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, said in a statement on behalf of the party that he is sending his "very best wishes" to Princess Kate and that his "thoughts" are with the royal family.

"Any cancer diagnosis is shocking," Starmer wrote. "But I can only imagine the added stress of receiving that news amid the lurid speculation we've seen in recent weeks."

He added that she and her family are "entitled to privacy" and that he is "heartened by The Princess of Wales' optimistic tone and her message of faith and hope."

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Princess Kate "has the love and support of the whole country as she continues her recovery."

"She has shown tremendous bravery with her statement today," Sunak wrote on X. "In recent weeks, she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media."

Sunak added that the princess deserves "the privacy to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on X that he wished Princess Kate "a swift recovery" as she undergoes chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis.

"Cancer has an impact on so many of us — & her bravery in sharing her diagnosis will help raise awareness & encourage others to get checked," Khan said.

Princess Kate’s surgery and withdrawal from the public eye led to speculation and conspiracy theories that spread across social media.

The royal rumor mill was sent into overdrive when a family photo of Kate and her children — released to mark Mother’s Day in the U.K. and in an apparent bid to end the speculation — was pulled by photo agencies.

As uproar grew, Kensington Palace said that Kate had edited the photo and apologized “for any confusion.”

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.

It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

King Charles III was also diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing treatment, Buckingham Palace announced last month.

The palace has not specified what kind of cancer the king has or at what stage it was initially found, but the announcement that he is facing cancer was in and of itself a break with historical royal protocol, in which medical ailments were often hidden from the public.

In today's announcement that she is undergoing treatment for cancer, Princess Kate asked for “time, space and privacy” for her and her family while she undergoes chemotherapy.

"This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," Kate said. "As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment."

She added that it has "taken us time" to explain what is going on to their three young kids — George, Charlotte and Louis — "in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK."

LONDON — Catherine, the Princess of Wales, announced Friday that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing "a course of preventative chemotherapy," breaking her silence after weeks of widespread speculation over the popular royal’s health.

The 42-year-old wife of Prince William, Britain’s future king, was hospitalized for nearly two weeks at the private London Clinic after unspecified abdominal surgery in January, which the palace described as planned. She said she is "now in the early stages of that treatment."

The announcement did not specify what kind of surgery Kate underwent earlier this year, what kind of cancer she is being treated for, or at what stage the cancer was found.