The British Royal Family in 2018.Photo:Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
On March 22,Kate Middletonrevealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after doctors found cancer following a “planned abdominal surgery” back in January.
In addition to Princess Kate, look back at the other rare times the royal family has disclosed information about their health.
01of 09Kate Middleton’s Cancer DiagnosisKate Middleton in a video announcing her cancer diagnosis on March 22.BBC StudiosWhen her absence from the public eyeafter abdominal surgerytriggeredglobal speculation about her whereabouts,Kate Middletonrevealed she was undergoing cancer treatment in a personal video posted toInstagramon March 22.“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” the Princess of Wales, 42, began. “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.“The mother of three also revealed that she needed time to process the news, both for herself and her children. “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.”
01of 09
Kate Middleton’s Cancer Diagnosis
Kate Middleton in a video announcing her cancer diagnosis on March 22.BBC Studios
BBC Studios
When her absence from the public eyeafter abdominal surgerytriggeredglobal speculation about her whereabouts,Kate Middletonrevealed she was undergoing cancer treatment in a personal video posted toInstagramon March 22.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” the Princess of Wales, 42, began. “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
The mother of three also revealed that she needed time to process the news, both for herself and her children. “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.”
02of 09
King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis
King Charles III.Chris Jackson/Getty
A little more than a month before Kate opened up about her diagnosis, the palace revealed that her father-in-law,King Charles, 75,had been diagnosed with an unidentified type of cancer.
He had previously been treated for an enlarged prostate early in the year and underwent surgery in January.
“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the Buckingham Palace wrote in a statement released on Feb. 5.
03of 09
Sarah Ferguson’s Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Also in January 2024, Sarah Fergusonannounced she had been diagnosed with skin cancer, just weeks after sharing that she had beaten breast cancer several weeks before.
“The Duchess wants to thank the entire medical team which has supported her, particularly her dermatologist whose vigilance ensured the illness was detected when it was,” the representative added. “She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, color and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma."
04of 09Meghan Markle’s Mental Health CrisisMeghan Markle.Chris Jackson/GettyIn herinterviewwith Oprah in 2021,Meghan Marklerevealed that her difficulty adjusting to life within the royal family caused her to struggle with her mental health, to the extent that she experienced suicidal thoughts.“I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn’t say it, then I would do it,” she told Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.“That was a clear and real and frightening and constant thought,” she said.“And that’s I think so important for people to remember, is you have no idea what’s going on for someone behind closed doors. No idea,” she added later in the interview. “Even the people that smile and shine the brightest lights. You need to have compassion for what it actually potentially going on.”
04of 09
Meghan Markle’s Mental Health Crisis
Meghan Markle.Chris Jackson/Getty
In herinterviewwith Oprah in 2021,Meghan Marklerevealed that her difficulty adjusting to life within the royal family caused her to struggle with her mental health, to the extent that she experienced suicidal thoughts.
“I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn’t say it, then I would do it,” she told Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.
“That was a clear and real and frightening and constant thought,” she said.
“And that’s I think so important for people to remember, is you have no idea what’s going on for someone behind closed doors. No idea,” she added later in the interview. “Even the people that smile and shine the brightest lights. You need to have compassion for what it actually potentially going on.”
05of 09
Queen Elizabeth’s Health Issues
Queen Elizabeth II.Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
In October 2021, was spotted using a cane to assist her in walking. That same month, her doctors advised her to cancel a scheduled trip to Northern Ireland and she obliged, thenspent a night in the hospital.
In Feb. 2022, the Queen herself contracted COVID-19, and recovery was slow. Shesaid in a video call with a COVID patientthat “it does leave one feeling very tired and exhausted.”
Her last act of duty came on Sept. 6, when sheappointed Liz Truss as the new prime ministerof the United Kingdom atBalmoral Castlein Scotland. She would cancel subsequent events per doctor’s orders.
Queen Elizabeth IIdied on Sept. 8, 2022. She was 96.
06of 09
Prince Philip’s Health Issues
Prince Philip (left) and his son Charles.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
Prince Philipdied weeks before his 100 birthday.
In the years leading up to his death, the Duke of Edinburgh also experienced several age-related health issues.
He officially retired from his duties in 2017 and gave up his driving license in 2019 following acar accident. That December, he was hospitalized for an undisclosed “pre-existing condition,” according to the palace.
In Feb. 2021, he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital to undergo a few days of observation and rest after reporting he had been “feeling unwell” and being “treated for an infection,” the palace stated. He would go on to stay in the hospital for 28 days.
That March, he was transferred to St. Bartholomew’s Hospitalfor an operationon what the palace said was a “pre-existing heart condition.”
07of 09Princes Margaret’s Lung OperationPrincess Margaret.Tim Graham/GettyPrincess Margaretwas known as the “Rebel Royal” because of her penchant for breaking the rules, but also because of her heavy smoking and drinking.In 1985, Queen Elizabeth’s only siblingunderwent an operationto have part of her lung removed. Years later, in 1993, Margaret went to the hospital for pneumonia.She then had two strokes — one while vacationing in Mustique in 1998 and another one in 2002. The latter proved to be fatal, and she died on Feb. 9 that year.She was 71.
07of 09
Princes Margaret’s Lung Operation
Princess Margaret.Tim Graham/Getty
Tim Graham/Getty
Princess Margaretwas known as the “Rebel Royal” because of her penchant for breaking the rules, but also because of her heavy smoking and drinking.
In 1985, Queen Elizabeth’s only siblingunderwent an operationto have part of her lung removed. Years later, in 1993, Margaret went to the hospital for pneumonia.
She then had two strokes — one while vacationing in Mustique in 1998 and another one in 2002. The latter proved to be fatal, and she died on Feb. 9 that year.
She was 71.
08of 09Princess Diana’s Eating DisorderPrincess Diana.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty ImagesIt’s no secret thatPrincess Diana’s relationship with Charles was tumultuous and the former Princess of Wales was quite open about how being a part of the royal family took a toll on her mental health — including a bout with postpartum depression and bulimia."[I had] rampant bulimia, if you can have rampant bulimia, and just a feeling of being no good at anything and being useless and hopeless and failed in every direction,” she told Martin Bashir in theinfamousBBC 1 Panoramainterview back in 1995.“It was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage. I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals, and people were using my bulimia as a coat on a hanger. They decided that was the problem: Diana was unstable,” she said, adding: “The cause was the situation where my husband and I had to keep everything together because we didn’t want to disappoint the public, and yet obviously there was a lot of anxiety going on within our four walls.”
08of 09
Princess Diana’s Eating Disorder
Princess Diana.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
It’s no secret thatPrincess Diana’s relationship with Charles was tumultuous and the former Princess of Wales was quite open about how being a part of the royal family took a toll on her mental health — including a bout with postpartum depression and bulimia.
“[I had] rampant bulimia, if you can have rampant bulimia, and just a feeling of being no good at anything and being useless and hopeless and failed in every direction,” she told Martin Bashir in theinfamousBBC 1 Panoramainterview back in 1995.
“It was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage. I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals, and people were using my bulimia as a coat on a hanger. They decided that was the problem: Diana was unstable,” she said, adding: “The cause was the situation where my husband and I had to keep everything together because we didn’t want to disappoint the public, and yet obviously there was a lot of anxiety going on within our four walls.”
09of 09
King George VI’s Lung Cancer
King George VI.Underwood Archives/Getty
Underwood Archives/Getty
When King George VI had cancer in 1951, the palace not only hid the diagnosis from the public, they also hid it from the monarch himself. In September 1951, Queen Elizabeth’s father underwent a pneumonectomy — removal of the lung — which the palace stated was due to “structural abnormalities.”
source: people.com
