Catherine, Princess of Wales, known to the public as Princess Kate or Kate Middleton, has revealed she was diagnosed with cancer after weeks of speculation on her recent no-shows since Christmas and Kensington Palace’s silence on the matter.
Princess Kate appeared in the video seated on a bench in an English garden, wearing a white and navy Breton top and blue-wash denim jeans — a deliberate style choice for the royal to address the public head-on after weeks of online speculation.
Kate Middleton Reveals Battle Against Cancer
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I've 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'm so grateful,” she began the video.
The princess affirmed that she went through a major abdominal surgery in January, as the palace reported at the time, revealing that doctors thought her condition was non-cancerous at the time.
While the surgery was a success, her medical team found that cancer was present.
“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,” she said.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment,” she added.
The princess shared that the diagnosis came as a huge shock, and was the reason that she had been quiet in the past months, as she and her husband, Prince William, “have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
Princess Kate went on to explain that the process has naturally taken some time — from having to recover from surgery to begin treatment, to explaining her condition to their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who are aged 10, 8, and 5, respectively.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment, but most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that's appropriate for them and to reassure them that I'm going to be okay as I've said to them I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits.”
She said that having William by her side was “a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support. and kindness that has been shown by so many of you,” and asked the public to give her and the prince some privacy as they deal with her diagnosis and treatment.
“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I'm able. But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery. At this time, I'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone,” she ended.
Here's Why Kate Middleton Wore a Breton Top in Her Announcement
Known for her impeccable style, Princess Kate is known to sport her favorite Breton top — a classic French staple — for meetings and engagements known to have casual dress codes, and when she is out enjoying her private time with her family.
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The Breton top is a classic sartorial garment, with its history as a classic French sailor uniform in 1858 — its name is taken after the coastal region of Brittany in France, where its wool was tightly woven into sweaters to keep fishermen warm. The original Breton top is said to have 21 stripes representing former French emperor and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte's victories.
In 1917, Coco Chanel launched a nautical collection inspired by sailor uniforms, considered a fashion breakthrough at the time for its relaxed style, during a period when women were still expected to wear corsets. The style was donned by the likes of Audrey Hepburn.
The Breton top further became a fashion staple in the 1950s, with French New Wave film stars such as Brigitte Bardot and Jean Seberg helping boost its popularity, and further contributed to its chic reputation it has today.
With its nautical history and classic style, Kate obviously has a fondness for the Breton top, which she has worn multiple times over the years.
The princess reaches for the classic striped top for community engagements and when addressing the public, such as when she joined a community of fathers called the Dadvengers on a "Dad Walk" as she promoted her Shaping Us campaign.
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She also wore the top when she and Prince William appeared on BBC Breakfast during the pandemic, where they talked about the lockdown and mental health.
In addressing the public for the first time after Kensington Palace's silence on online speculations about Princess Kate's well-being and her marriage, it is only a fitting choice that she wore a laid-back look for the video, as opposed to her more polished appearances during more stately functions.
As Kate's go-to wardrobe choice, the classic striped top has become a signature look when she faces the public in a more grounded manner. It communicates a sense of trust, intimacy, and sincerity as she reclaims her narrative.
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