Kate Middleton, Prince William ‘enormously touched’ by support, Kensington Palace says
Kate Middleton, Prince William Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrive for their visit to SportsAid at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on Oct. 12, 2023, in Marlow, England. Prince and Princess of Wales are carrying out engagements across the UK to mark World Mental Health Day and to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, particularly in young people. (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
By Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be touched by the support from around the world following Kate’s cancer diagnosis news on Friday.
“The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson said, according to The Associated Press.
“They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time,” the spokesperson said, according to the BBC.
On Friday afternoon, Catherine announced that she was undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer.
The diagnosis came after she underwent a planned abdominal surgery in January at the London Clinic. Officials did not immediately share details on the nature of the surgery, though they said it was successful and would likely keep her from public duties until after Easter.
Catherine did not say what form of cancer she was diagnosed with.
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton as a 5-year-old. (Middleton Family/Clarence House/Getty Images )
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, back row, third from left, is pictured in a tennis team photo during her time as a pupil at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, England, where she attended from 1986 to 1995. (St Andrew's School - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and her father, Michael Middleton, before her graduation from the University of St. Andrews in June 2005. (Indigo/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton does some shopping during the Gatcombe Park Festival of British Eventing in August 2005. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Prince Harry, left, Prince William, center, and Kate Middleton cheer on the English team during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy in 2007. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton takes part in a training session with The Sisterhood cross channel rowing team on the Thames in August 2007. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Prince William announced their engagement in November 2010. ( Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the Calgary Stampede in 2011. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, right, sits with her sister, Pippa Middleton in the Royal Box during the 2012 Wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton plays hockey with the GB hockey teams at the Riverside Arena in 2012. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II enjoy a children's sporting event in 2012. (Phil Noble - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George, at St Mary's Hospital on July 23, 2013, in London. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton waves her wand and casts a spell on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter Films during the Inauguration Of Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden in 2013. (Paul Rogers - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton tries her hand at cricket during the countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup on April 14, 2014, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Joseph Johnson/Getty Images for ICC Cricket World Cup)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry spearheaded a campaign called Heads Together in 2016. (Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Royal Foundation)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with Prince Louis after his birth in 2018. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle attend Wimbledon in 2018. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years. Princess Charlotte arrives for her first day of school, with her brother Prince George and her parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at Thomas's Battersea in London on Sept. 5, 2019, in London. (Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Badshahi Mosque during their royal tour of Pakistan in October 2019. (Owen Humphreys - Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoy some sports during a 2020 trip to Ireland. ( Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, center, is flanked by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on the balcony overlooking the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance on Nov. 14, 2021, in London. (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, left, chats with U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu as they return to the LTA's National Tennis Centre for The Homecoming on Sept. 24, 2021 in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for LTA)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take part in a land yachting session on West Sands beach in May 2021. (Max Mumby, pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton tries her hand at archery during a 2021 visit to Wolverhampton, England. (Jacob King - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years SANDRINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Sandringham Estate on September 15, 2022 in Sandringham, England. (Photo Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales is driven down The Mall after the funeral for HM Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Tom Jenkins - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years CARRICKFERGUS, NORTHERN IRELAND - OCTOBER 06: Catherine, Princess of Wales pictured during her visit to Carrickfergus on October 6, 2022 in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales are on a one day visit to the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales plays boccia as she attends the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Coach Core at Copper Box Arena on October 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Heathcliff O'Malley - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)