London:

Britain’s Princess of Wales said on Friday that tests following major abdominal surgery in January revealed she had cancer and that she was receiving preventive chemotherapy.

Kate, 42, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, spent two weeks in hospital in January after her office said planned surgery to treat an unspecified non-cancerous disease was successful.

However, Kate said in a video message that subsequent tests revealed the cancer but said she was fine and getting stronger.

“As a result, my medical team recommended that I should undergo preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of treatment,” Kate said in a video filmed on Wednesday.

“This is of course a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to deal with and manage this matter privately for the sake of our young family.”

King Charles revealed in February that he would also undergo cancer treatment, meaning he would have to postpone public royal duties.

Her office, Kensington Palace, said it would not provide further details about the type of cancer. She is said to be recovering and preventive chemotherapy began in February.

After the surgery, the palace said Kate would not return to official duties until after Easter, but her absence from public life sparked intense speculation on social media.

She and William had wanted to keep the cancer a secret until their children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, started school holidays on Friday.

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“It took me some time to recover from the major surgery before I could start treatment. But most importantly we spent some time explaining everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that suited them and reassuring them. I It’s going to be okay,” she said.

“Like I tell them; I’m getting stronger every day by focusing on things that will help me heal, my mind, my body and my spirit.”

Kate has not been seen at public events since attending a church service with the rest of the royal family on Christmas Day.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)