Catherine, Princess of Wales, said Tuesday that her cancer was in remission, lifting a major cloud for the British royal family, which is grappling with serious health problems for itself and for King Charles III.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on my recovery,” wrote Catherine, Prince William’s wife. on Instagram.
“As anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer knows, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. However, I am looking forward to a busy year ahead,” she added. “There is a lot to hope for. »
Catherine said last September that she had completed chemotherapy for her cancer and that her goal was to remain cancer-free. But Kensington Palace, where she and William have their offices, declined to say at that time whether her doctors had declared her medically cancer-free or whether she was undergoing other treatment.
The palace has never confirmed the type of cancer that struck Catherine, its progress or what other treatment she was undergoing, beyond chemotherapy. The cancer was detected in January after he was hospitalized for 14 days for abdominal surgery.
Still, Catherine’s announcement Tuesday seemed more promising than last fall’s update, even though Kensington Palace has yet to provide any additional medical details. A palace official warned that Catherine would gradually return to official duties over the remainder of this year.
Her announcement that she was in remission came as she visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London, where she had been treated. “My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who walked quietly alongside William and I as we walked through it all,” Catherine posted.
During the hospital visit, Catherine thanked staff members and spoke with other cancer patients. She recalled her “really difficult” experience with chemotherapy, revealing that the drugs were delivered via a port, according to PA Media, the British news agency, which accompanied the princess on her visit.
“I got so attached to it,” Catherine said, referring to the port, a device which can be implanted under the skin and left in place throughout chemotherapy. She joked that she hesitated when she was finally told, “You can have it removed,” according to PA Media.
“It’s really hard,” Catherine said of chemotherapy. “It’s such a shock.”
A palace official said the purpose of Catherine’s visit to the Royal Marsden was not only to thank staff for their care, but also to highlight “the world-leading care and treatment provided by the Marsden” .
Prince William is already a royal patron of the hospital, which opened in 1851 and is the first hospital in the world dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis, research and treatment of cancer. Catherine is now named co-godmother, alongside her husband.
Charles announced in February that he too had been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace has revealed little about his treatment or the status of his illness, although he has returned to a busy schedule of official duties.
On Monday, the palace announced that Charles would visit Poland later this month to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp. Last year, the King visited Australia and Samoa, where he attended a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government.
Catherine approached her illness more personally than her father-in-law, although with equally tight control over the level of disclosure. She announced the end of her chemotherapy in an emotional video featuring William and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially your loved ones,” Catherine said in the video. “With humility, it also makes you face your own vulnerabilities in a way you’ve never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.”
