The nightmare of cancer, the evil par excellence of the modern world, stretches its tentacles over the British royal family,
casting dismay on an entire country and on all those who follow the events of the Windsor house.
The Princess of Wales, Catherine, 42-year-old wife of the heir to the throne William, broke the silence on her health conditions in a heartfelt video to the nation - after two months from the mysterious abdominal operation at the London Clinic and weeks of speculation and delirium conspiracy theories - to announce that he is dramatically struggling with a tumor: just like King Charles III, 75 years old, who last month had revealed the same diagnosis to his subjects and to the world.
Kate, as she has always been familiarly called, presented herself openly this time, at the risk of appearing tired and thin compared to her usual impeccable image as a future icon of the monarchy.
Invoking, with the strength of someone who is ready to even challenge one of the most feared diseases, that privacy so far vainly hoped for, for herself, for her husband and for their three children.
Not without reassuring us about the evolution of a condition discovered early, apparently, and yet not even concealing a hint about her emotions, her human fears or the seriousness of the treatments she is now forced to face.
Sitting on the greenery of Windsor, Catherine spoke for two minutes and 16 seconds,
trying not to lose her smile.
Video Kate's shock announcement: 'I have cancer but I'm fighting and William is with me'
Also regal in her home clothes, jeans and white sweater with blue stripes, in which she offered herself to public opinion in the video recorded two days ago by the BBC cameras.
She spoke calmly, but looked down when she described the "enormous shock" of discovering the cancer.
The news arrived according to her reconstruction not before the January operation (which unofficial sources had then denied had anything to do with oncological problems), but after: on the basis of a subsequent biopsy, which concluded with the verdict now announced.
A verdict which - as Kensington Palace later confirmed, without specifying what type of cancer it was or which organ was affected - was followed by the start of a cycle of "chemotherapy" starting from the end of February.
"William and I - underlined the princess - have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the good of our young family
. As you can imagine, it took time. It also took me time to recovering from major surgery and starting treatment."
"But the most important thing - she continued - is that it took time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis and to reassure them that I will be fine".
According to the palace, it was Kate herself who wanted to give a public update in person to try to put an end to the vicious circle of conjectures and the most improbable (or malignant) hypotheses unleashed in these weeks of secrecy on the media (Americans first and foremost) and on the web;
especially after the boomerang effect of the manipulated photo released by the palace about ten days ago.
“I feel like I'm doing well and getting stronger every day,” he noted, then went on to point out: “It's been an incredibly difficult two months for our entire family
, but I've had a fantastic medical team that has taken great care of me. me, for which I am very grateful."
"Having William at my side - he then highlighted, as if to pay homage to his future king, and to remove him from the spiral of gossip - is also a great source of comfort. As well as the love, support and kindness that have been shown by many of you."
"Now - he concluded - we need some time, space and intimacy while I complete the treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to returning to it, when I can, but for now I need to focus on my full recovery. At this moment I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer, in any form: please do not lose faith or hope, you are not alone."
Words destined to touch hearts and arouse emotion.
As witnessed by the initial reactions of many, including leaders of the Kingdom as well as other nations.
King Charles, who has been undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer for over a month, made it known that he was "very proud of Catherine and of her courage".
While praise and good wishes marked by trust came in close succession from both the British conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak and the leader of the Labor opposition Keir Starmer
: the latter did not fail to denounce - as has already been done by Anglican primate Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury - "the squalid" dog of gossip and conspiracy speculation unloaded on the sick princess.
Meanwhile, from the USA, at least if we believe the tabloid Page Six, there are also echoes of messages of concern and solidarity filtered by Harry, the rebel prince, despite the ditch created with his older brother.
All this while the rumor according to which Kate could have reappeared in public at the traditional royal Easter mass on March 31st is definitively excluded: an appointment which, however, William will also miss.
Harry and Meghan wish Kate 'health and recovery'
Prince Harry and Meghan have sent their "health and recovery" wishes to Catherine, Princess of Wales, after she announced a cancer diagnosis on Friday.
CNN reports it.
“We wish health and recovery to Kate and her family, and hope that this can happen in privacy and in peace,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement.
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