King Charles has paid tribute to his brave daughter-in-law Kate after she was diagnosed with cancer.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said the king had been in close contact with the Princess of Wales after being hospitalized together over the past few weeks.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said King Charles and Queen Camilla “will continue to provide love and support to the entire family through this difficult time.”

In a video message posted on Friday, Kate said she underwent major abdominal surgery on January 14 and her condition was thought to be non-cancerous at the time, but subsequent tests revealed cancer was present.

In the heartfelt message, the 42-year-old princess revealed that the diagnosis came as a “huge shock” and that she and Prince William have been doing everything they can to deal with the results privately for the sake of their young family.