Kate Middleton, Charles III and Sarah Ferguson’s cancers. 2024, a nightmare for the Windsors

The year is off to a very trying start for the British royal family. A month and a half after Charles III’s cancer announcement, Princess Kate Middleton, the wife of his eldest son William, publicly revealed on Friday night that she too has cancer. Without, however, clarifying its nature and stage.

January 17: Announcement of Kate and Charles hospitalization

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that the 42-year-old Princess of Wales was hospitalized at a London clinic for “planned abdominal surgery.” It said the operation was a success, but Kate is expected to remain “in hospital for 10 to 14 days” and is unlikely to return to official duties until Easter. When faced with questions, the palace informed British royal correspondents that it was not cancer. William announces that he will stop his activities to stay close to his wife and their three children.

A few hours later, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III, who is 75 years old and will ascend the throne in September 2022, will be hospitalized due to a benign prostate enlargement. This message about the king’s health, unusual for a monarchy, was intended to encourage research into this pathology, which is very common among men of a certain age and generally not serious.

January 21: “Fergie” melanoma

On January 21, 64-year-old Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of the king’s brother, Prince Andrew, announced that she was suffering from malignant melanoma, a skin cancer. Six months ago, in June 2023, she had already announced that she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Sarah still lives in Windsor, the royal residence she shares with Prince Andrew, with whom she remains close despite their divorce in 1996.

January 26: The king is hospitalized

Charles III enters a very luxurious clinic in London, where Kate is also located. He arrives at the clinic with his wife, Camila, who visits him several times during his hospitalization. The King greets the crowd as he leaves the clinic on January 29. Kensington Palace also announced on January 29 that Kate had been discharged from a London clinic and that she was making “good progress”.

February 5: Charles III announces he is suffering from cancer

Buckingham Palace announces that the King has discovered cancer during prostate surgery and has begun treatment. The nature of his cancer was not specified. The king begins his healing. Charles III has since canceled all official public engagements, but continues to carry out some official functions, such as his talks with the Prime Minister.

Kate’s mysterious absence

In the age of social media, the silence about the reasons for Kate’s surgery and her prolonged absence, during which the princess remains invisible, has sparked a flurry of speculation. William cancels on February 27th in extremes his attendance at the commemoration of his godfather King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle for “personal reasons”. The cancellation fueled rumors about Kate’s health. In a statement to the British media, Kensington Palace, facing new speculation, assures that the princess “continues to do well”.

On March 10, British Mother’s Day, Kensington released an official photo of Kate smiling surrounded by her three children, the first since her surgery in mid-January. However, Kate eventually admits that the photo was photoshopped. Enough to reignite speculation about his health.

March 22: Kate reveals she has cancer

In a video broadcast on Friday night, the Princess of Wales announced that she had cancer, without specifying its nature, and that she had started chemotherapy, citing a “huge shock”. “I’m in the early stages of this chemotherapy treatment right now,” says a visibly tired Kate. “The last few months have been incredibly difficult for my whole family,” said the Princess of Wales. “I’m doing well. I gain strength every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my head, body and morals,” assures Kate.