and manage this process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. privately for the sake of our young family . as you can young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time . it imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. but most importantly , it has taken us importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way that's appropriate for them. and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay. as i've said to them, i am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me healin on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. it means so much to us both. we hope that you'll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy. while i complete my treatment . my work has always treatment. my work has always brought me a deep sense of joy

and i look forward to being back when i'm able. but for now, i must focus on making a full recovery at this time. i'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. lives have been affected by cancer . for everyone facing this cancer. for everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. you are not alone . hope. you are not alone. >> you're certainly not alone. and i know that this news will have shocked many of you. if you are tuning in for lee anderson's programme tonight , programme tonight, understandably, we will not be crossing there . instead, we will crossing there. instead, we will be bringing you all of the reaction to that very sad and shocking news that we've just been hearing, that catherine, the princess of wales, has been treated , she's having cancer treated, she's having cancer treatment. rishi sunak , issued treatment. rishi sunak, issued a statement in response, saying that the princess of wales has the love and support of the whole country as she continues her recovery, she has shown tremendous bravery with her

statement today. in recent weeks, she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain segments of the media around the world and he says on social media, when it comes to matters of health like everybody else, she must be afforded the privacy to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family . to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family. i to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family . i know with her loving family. i know i speak for the whole country, he says in wishing her a full and speedy recovery. and i look forward to seeing her back in action when she is ready. sir keir starmer also, he has issued a statement he says on behalf of the whole labour party, i want to send my very best wishes to her royal highness at this distressing time. our thoughts are with the whole royal family as they come to terms with the news and as they support the princess of wales through her treatment and recovery. any cancer diagnosis is shocking, but i can only imagine the added stress of receiving that news

amid the lurid speculation we've seen in recent weeks that royal highnesses are entitled to privacy and like any parents, they've waited to choose the right moment to tell their children. i'm heartened, he says, by the princess of wales optimistic tone and her message of faith and hope. her royal highness will be in our thoughts and prayers as she progresses through her treatment with the love and support of not just our whole family, but the whole nafion whole family, but the whole nation too. you guys at home are absolutely echoing that sentiment. you can join this conversation tonight gb views at gb news. com is how you reach me here in the studio, and i will involve you , and i will share involve you, and i will share your messages as we progress through this next hour. but for now, i'm joined in the studio by our royal editor, cameron walker. many, many people upset, shocked, distressed by this news tonight. what can you tell us.7 >> it clearly is a big shock to our viewers and listeners. i

think it's important to say at the start that the princess appears to be in good spirits, and she's focused on her recovery, and she says in her very moving statement and message there she chose the appropriate time to let her three young children, prince george, ten, princess charlotte, eight, and prince louis, five, nearly six. about this diagnosis . and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay, we know that that's video , which we've just that's video, which we've just seen was taken on wednesday , was seen was taken on wednesday, was recorded on wednesday in windsor. we know . just to recap windsor. we know. just to recap a little bit, the princess went into hospital to undergo planned abdominal surgery in january. at the time they thought it wasn't cancerous and it was only in post—operative tests that they discovered cancer was present. so at the end of last month, so end of february, the princess started her preventative chemotherapy. so she's been having that for a few weeks ,

having that for a few weeks, almost a month in the last half an hour or so , we've had a an hour or so, we've had a statement from a buckingham palace spokesperson as well saying that his majesty the king, who of course, is also undergoing cancer treatment at the moment, is so proud of catherine for her courage in speaking as she did . of course, speaking as she did. of course, they were both in hospital at they were both in hospital at the same time , her recovering the same time, her recovering from abdominal surgery, him going in for a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. so dunng treat an enlarged prostate. so during that time together in hospital and after his majesty has remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter in law throughout the past weeks, both their majesties the king and queen will continue to offer their love and support to offer their love and support to the whole family throughout this difficult time. of course, prince, prince william is very much by his wife's side. we're told that the princess says in her statements that she's been really comforted by william's support, and she's got her extended family as well . her two extended family as well. her two parents, mike and carole middleton, her two siblings,

james and pippa as well. and pippa has children too. and james has a little one on the way or is already had it. i think so had the child, so she's got a lot of family and support around her, but clearly still a very difficult news to take in and treatment ahead. >> indeed, one of my viewers, patricia, says michelle, i can simply say i'm absolutely gutted. she says, god bless that brave , great girl, so many of brave, great girl, so many of you . i mean, your tributes are you. i mean, your tributes are just flying in you know, she's loved, princess catherine is absolutely loved, one of my viewers now that asks, how much more can the royal family take.7 there is, of course, so much affecting that family at the moment. and i'm joined now by the royal broadcaster, rafe heydel—mankoo . good evening to heydel—mankoo. good evening to you. >> good evening . >> good evening. >> good evening. >> michelle, on this sad evening, it is a really sad evening, it is a really sad evening and riff, you know, my view is are getting in touch and

it's just everybody's united in shock, distress , grief, and this shock, distress, grief, and this sense of wanting this connection. i mean, we just heard it in the statement . heard it in the statement. they're thinking about other people, wanting other people to be okay as princess catherine, telling other people that she's not alone. and the royal family on on my view is they're just asking, how much more can this family take.7 i mean , there is so family take.7 i mean, there is so much going on them at the much going on for them at the moment. right now, there is. >> i think the shock is >> and i think the shock is because always thought of because we've always thought of the wales as being the princess of wales as being the princess of wales as being the embodiment good the very embodiment of good health. such a sporty woman never had any health never really had any health issues, any medical issues, in her life, apart from, of course, having acute morning sickness when she was pregnant. but otherwise we always saw her as being in rude health. and then when we heard about her admission to hospital three weeks after her last public appearance at christmas day, we were told at the time that it wasn't a cancerous issue. her abdominal, her abdominal

surgery. it was only, of course, in the preoperative stage of testing that this cancer was found out. so for all of us, we're in great shock, particularly, of course, because it's a double whammy with his majesty also undergoing chemotherapy . but as cameron chemotherapy. but as cameron said, you know, we must take some, some comfort from the fact that the princess of wales said that the princess of wales said that says that she's in, she's feeling well. the treatment of cancer today is has improved in leaps and bounds over recent years and decades. you know, one in every two of us these days, unfortunately, is going to experience cancer of some form. i doubt there's a single viewer who doesn't know somebody in their family or close circle who has been affected by cancer, and luckily , people are living and luckily, people are living and surviving for much longer, and certainly the fact that we know that this is preventative chemotherapy that her royal highness is, is going through and should, should give us a little bit of comfort. i hope. >> now, the rafe heydel—mankoo

thank you, for your time. so many of you , are getting in many of you, are getting in touch again, the overwhelming sentiment is just sending your well—wishes. ben benita from west sussex says, i cannot believe what i'm hearing, i just want to say she's a brave lady giving us a statement about her health, she says that they send their love for a speedy recovery, to catherine, to william and to all of the children often. i mean, there's just so much love. honestly coming through this inbox. you're you're feeling very, very emotional tonight , andrew in emotional tonight, andrew in scotland says this is absolutely heartbreaking, but i hope this can perhaps be a moment. he says , when the country can press pause and set aside a lot of the nonsense, his words that seems to divide us at the moment. and can we all come together and understand that life and good health and all the rest of it is

important? he says. god bless everybody, and please tell princess catherine she has the love of a nation behind her. that's andrew from scotland. you can be part of this conversation tonight. gb views at gb news. com is how you can reach me this evening. i'm joined now by the. for a former northern ireland secretary and friend of the middleton family, sean woodward. good evening to you, sean. your reaction to this shocking news tonight? >> well, i think like everybody across the country, i'm deeply saddened to hear that kate, has done what, is the most extraordinary broadcast and admitting that she has cancer this evening. i think all of us are. you're absolutely right, michelle. we're united in sending her love and to her family. best wishes , this is a family. best wishes, this is a terrible thing to happen to anyone. terrible thing to happen to anyone . to any family, as you've anyone. to any family, as you've observed , it happens to i in 2 observed, it happens to i in 2 people. eventually, in the country. but i think you know

what is really extra ordinary tonight is and i think it's a defining moment inside our royal family. it's a very personal moment , too, but it's a defining moment, too, but it's a defining moment, too, but it's a defining moment because what kate has done with her family is to make this announcement. it's not been made on her behalf. she's done it in effectively a broadcast to the nation . everyone has the nation. everyone has broadcast it, but the most powerful thing of all was that statement at the end. i think everybody feels love and compassion for her. there's no question about that. but the extraordinary last part of that broadcast where she says there are other people out there going through this , there is hope. you through this, there is hope. you are not alone in for the princess of wales to use the power of her office through the personal statement that she made tonight, i think, is going to change things in this country. it's going to change, george, a

lot of things about the way we think about cancer, talk about cancen think about cancer, talk about cancer. she shared this terrible diagnosis for herself with everyone. she's asked for privacy and i hope everyone gives her that. but i have a friend today who was diagnosed with cancer and began her treatment for breast cancer at the royal marsden, and that wonderful friend who's been a friend in my life for 30, 40 years, liz has her own journey to make , and i have no doubt to make, and i have no doubt that tonight my friend, hearing the princess of wales say that will have landed in her heart in a very special way. as it's doing across the nation. it's truly one of the most extraordinary pieces of video , extraordinary pieces of video, that we could have had tonight. utterly amazing . utterly amazing. >> indeed , as you say. and >> indeed, as you say. and i think we really all echo the sentiment here that we are just united, at this moment. and

also, sean, i mean, you are a friend of the middleton family , friend of the middleton family, you know, i don't think you mind me saying that, and the positive city really kind of came through, on this statement to us from catherine there, the positivity that the messages that she's sending her children, that she's sending her children, that she's, well , that mommy's that she's, well, that mommy's going to, you know, essentially get through this, that she's focusing on all of the important things the mind, the body, the spirit, and keeping that spirit, and keeping up that positivity is incredibly important , positivity is incredibly important, isn't it? >> you know, this doesn't take away one bit from the importance of all our love and best wishes and well wishes going to cater. my and well wishes going to cater. my goodness. if well wishes could be your medicine. kate has enough medicine in those well wishes across the country tonight to take her to the moon and back. but the extraordinary thing is that she's used this not just for herself , she's used not just for herself, she's used it to help other people. we know that when people are given a terrible diagnosis like cancer , terrible diagnosis like cancer, that it terrible diagnosis like cancer,

thatitis terrible diagnosis like cancer, that it is one of the most devastating things they can possibly imagine. but what kate did tonight was to pick them up and hold her next to them and say, you're not alone, because when you get a diagnosis like this , you think, why me? you this, you think, why me? you think very much, i'm alone . and think very much, i'm alone. and what kate has done tonight is to use this to talk to the country. and i think it is truly a remarkable thing to have done. and of course, we wish her well, but it also means that i think about her as the future princess of wales and future queen, with william as king one day, hopefully not for a long time, but my goodness, if we can see a woman like that using a terrible moment inside her family to want to reach out and help anyone with a diagnosis, anyone told that they have this and to remind them they're not alone. you see what an incredible person she has become. it's utterly, i think, breathtaking

to see how brilliant and selfless this person has been tonight. and you're right, michelle, in wanting to say, let's take this and hope it unhes let's take this and hope it unites the nation. if you can't be united behind this woman tonight, i don't know what you can unite behind. she's been incredible and i can tell you that that's a sentiment really, really is echoed, among all of my viewers right now. >> but for now, shaun woodward, thank you very much for your time. >> thank you very much. also as well, i must thank my panel this evening. >> jonathan, liz and daniel moylan, thank you for your your company , your reflections and company, your reflections and your thoughts this evening, you can keep in contact with me tonight. vaiews@gbnews.com is how you do this , janet on how you do this, janet on twitter and says i'm absolutely devastated for princess catherine. she's so brave to make that statement and i wish her a speedy recovery , if you her a speedy recovery, if you are just joining us, i will take are just joining us, i will take

a moment to play for you. the message that catherine, the princess of wales, has for you this evening . this evening. >> i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst i've been recovering from surgery, it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family. but i've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me for which i'm so grateful. in january , i underwent major in january, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london and at the time it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous . my condition was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful, however , tests after the however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present . my medical team present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment . early stages of that treatment. this, of course, came as a huge shock , and william and i have shock, and william and i have been doing everything we can to

process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. privately for the sake of our young family . as you can young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time . it imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. but most importantly , it has taken us importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way that's appropriate for them. and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay. as i've said to them, i am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me healin on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. it means so much to us both. we hope that you'll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy. while i complete my treatment . my work has always treatment. my work has always brought me a deep sense of joy,

and i look forward to being back when i'm able. but for and i look forward to being back when i'm able . but for now, when i'm able. but for now, i must focus on making a full recovery . at this time, i'm also recovery. at this time, i'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. lives have been affected by cancer . and for everyone facing cancer. and for everyone facing this disease in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. you are not alone . hope. you are not alone. >> you're really not alone and so many of you are appreciating that message tonight. and those sentiments that are being shared. you can get in touch with me as well to share some of your thoughts. gb views at gb news. com is how you reach me tonight. peter, one of my viewers has done just that. he says. i'm watching the show tonight with tears in my eyes. he says, i will admit i'm 68 and hardly anything can make me cry. but this still has. he sends his love and regards, to princess catherine alongside me now as gb news presenter mark dolan. good evening to you. your reaction to this shocking news tonight? >> well, it's devastating. and

this is the second major royal that has received a cancer diagnosis . this and any illness diagnosis. this and any illness is serious. and we knew that what catherine was going through was serious before the revelation that cancer is involved. i mean, we knew in january that when this procedure was happening that we wouldn't see her in public life again until after easter. so something serious was going on. but that word, the c word cancer, has such symbolism , doesn't it? it's such symbolism, doesn't it? it's just a word that sends a shiver down your spine . and it's down your spine. and it's troubling to anyone that gets that diagnosis. of course , that diagnosis. of course, mercifully, it's not a death sentence anymore, but it's still a deadly serious disease. and it's shocking that someone so fit, young and vital should be affected . i mean, i've been affected. i mean, i've been thinking about catherine this afternoon. this evening . and afternoon. this evening. and she's a figure of superlatives, isn't she ? she's one of the most isn't she? she's one of the most beautiful women in the world. she's one of the best known, most famous women in the world. and she's one of the most

beloved member, if not the most beloved member, if not the most beloved member, if not the most beloved member of the royal family. she's box office. she hasn't put a foot wrong since entering the family, she's had a flawless public record, and i think that's why people are so shocked, so taken aback by this news, because it's a reminder that, yes, she's a remarkable figure, but she's a human being. and like all of us, she's frail and, you know, i don't know what you thought about her appearance in the video. i think she delivered her statement with such dignity and class, but she's clearly been through a lot. you can see the toll it's taken on her. she's very pale. she's lost weight and it's. you know, just to see that video is enough to make you realise how serious this is. >> i think things like >> yeah. and i think things like this , i think just stop you this, i think they just stop you in your tracks really, don't they? everyone they? because everyone just gets. mean, all do it, gets. i mean, we all do it, don't we? we get consumed into our everything our own lives and everything that's going on. sometimes we'll get distracted with this, with that, other. and then that, with the other. and then when that you feel like, when someone that you feel like, you this

you know and we had this conversation you like, conversation that you feel like, you the family, you you know, the royal family, you feel connected the royal feel connected to the royal family. at this news, does family. so at this news, it does just stop you in your tracks. one my viewers, sue, says, one of my viewers, sue, says, god says, we love god bless you, she says, we love you, catherine. my heart feels broken tonight, she says, please do get better soon. she says, we love you. and this sentiment is coming through thick and fast . coming through thick and fast. but, who's this here, a real, real. you say, please, can you pass on our love and best wishes to princess catherine, prince william, and to their lovely, lovely , family, lots of you , lovely, family, lots of you, linda saying, this has affected us so much. it's a shock, thank you for sending us this message. she is the most extraordinary person. and we hold her in her heart, in our hearts , she says, heart, in our hearts, she says, honestly , cameron, it really is. honestly, cameron, it really is. people i remember, when our queen died , i remember, and i up

queen died, i remember, and i up until that point, i'd never really would have thought that i'd have ever have become emotional about anything like that. and i remember it stopping me in my tracks, and i remember it really making me cry. and this is a sentiment that so many people are saying tonight. and of course, i mean, we need to get sense of perspective here, get a sense of perspective here, princess catherine, she's, sending a positive, upbeat, sending a very positive, upbeat, you know, strong message. you know, i am going to get well , know, i am going to get well, i've communicated to my children, i'm going to focus on my health, my self, my mind, my body, my spirit . you know, she's body, my spirit. you know, she's fighting this. and hopefully we'll, you know, continue with the best health possible. >> yeah, she absolutely is. and as you've just read out, michelle, our gb news viewers clearly are just so emotional by this news and truly shocked by the princess of wales's cancer diagnosis and of course, the princess is the most popular member of the royal family. if you go by the latest yougov polls and different poll polling. so i think that's why

perhaps it's hit home, but also just echoing what shaun woodward said bit earlier. said a little bit earlier. earlier on. he describes this as a defining moment. the fact earlier on. he describes this as a defining moment . the fact that a defining moment. the fact that the princess has decided to speak on camera directly to the british public almost like a broadcast. well, it was a broadcast, but speaking directly to everybody in their own individual homes. so her message isn't mistranslated by a statement from her communications team or or from a palace. and being behind closed walls, she would have been very aware of the speculation over the last few months, and i think it just shows how personable the princess is, and the statement was strong . it was clearly was strong. it was clearly emotional, but it was powerful as well. and you heard it from the horse's mouth. you heard it from herself. how much she wants to protect her children , her to protect her children, her family, and that she wants privacy at this time to clearly recover and focus on herself. >> is it regrettable that she felt that she needed to make the video so that a statement

wouldn't be enough? >> well, i don't think everything would have been done on her own terms if she didn't want to do a video, she wouldn't have done it. and we were discussing in the first hour since this news broke the since this news broke about the communications strategy of kensington and whether it kensington palace and whether it was thing or a bad thing was a good thing or a bad thing to release the photograph or a video or whatever. and i think we remember that they we need to remember that they are to be taking their are going to be taking their lead the and lead from the prince and princess their princess of wales, their principal. catherine would principal. and catherine would have to do that video, have wanted to do that video, otherwise wouldn't have done otherwise she wouldn't have done it. clearly we've seen from it. and clearly we've seen from the messages flooding into our inbox here at gb news just how touched the british public are by the princess deciding to sit down and do this video. but i think in return the princess will want to be left alone to, rest, recuperate and recover and get treatments in private. we know that the time scale that kensington palace gave us, back in january, that we would be seeing the princess after easter, back on public engagements . it looks like engagements. it looks like that's a bit of a grey area.

now, i know for a fact her, william and the three children will not be at the saint george's chapel service in windsor sunday. we windsor on easter sunday. we don't have a definite date as to when the princess will be back on public engagements, although when the princess will be back on punderstand ements, although when the princess will be back on punderstand that1ts, although when the princess will be back on punderstand that if., although when the princess will be back on punderstand that if she hough i do understand that if she feels fit able to, she may feels fit and able to, she may decide to go to the odd engagements here there. but engagements here and there. but nothing guaranteed at point. >> yeah, and i mean, you just mentioned the children there. i mean, there a huge outpouring mean, there is a huge outpouring of love and support and everything everybody everything from everybody tonight . but ultimately, she tonight. but ultimately, she might be, the princess of hearts . she might be the people's princess. all of the lovely tributes that people have been sending in to me tonight, but ultimately to three little children, she's just mummy. and they are, you know, so young, ten, eight and five. and i mean, you know, we've got children. the thought of sitting your children down and having to tell them that mummy or daddy are not quite ill, not quite well, and granddad as well, even for those children, this is a huge amount to process .

to process. >> well, indeed. and it comes back to the cancer diagnosis . back to the cancer diagnosis. this because this looks hopefully to have been caught early, that the chemotherapy is preventative, but it's just not a disease that you can underplay , say even to your own children. you can't just say nothing to see here, folks. you have to convey to the children that mummy is not well and it's been quite serious what she's been going through. but she's going to be okay. how you navigate that with children, let alone grown up ones in your life grown up loved ones in your life , is one of the big challenges, you know, and that's why it has to be handled so delicately. i mean, one, one question i've got for you, michelle, is whether you think that this video will now end the speculation about her condition, her welfare, her whereabouts, all the rest of it, you know, i hope so. >> i hope so, because ultimately, you know, i mean, what more and this is such a balance to kind of strike because on the one hand people will say, well, it's the royal

family. it was a royal that was chosen. so they will say , kate chosen. so they will say, kate middleton as she was then she chose this position. she chose this platform, and ultimately she chose the scrutiny . so then she chose the scrutiny. so then there'll be that side of the argument. but then the other side of the argument will be, and i kind straddled the, the and i kind of straddled the, the two, i guess, because i understand that people want to know some information, but this whole of notion of, you whole kind of notion of, you know, should we be entitled to know, should we be entitled to know exactly what cancer , what know exactly what cancer, what stage of cancer, where is this cancer? because to me , you know, cancer? because to me, you know, yes, she plays a very important and much loved public role. but she is mummy. i mean, a viewer here, caroline has just got in touch saying, i just feel like i want to reach out to be part of the conversation, she says i was diagnosed with breast cancer, a similar age princess similar age to princess katherine . just a reminder that katherine. just a reminder that princess is 42 years princess katherine is 42 years of the viewer here, of age and the viewer here, caroline, says, to try and caroline, says, i had to try and talk to my very young children and them that mummy was and tell them that mummy was sick and had to undergo chemotherapy, and she says, i

must to everybody, the most must say to everybody, the most important thing katherine needs right privacy and time to right now is privacy and time to deal this. caroline goes on deal with this. caroline goes on to that i am well after 17 to say that i am well after 17 years now, and thank goodness for that, she says. but i can totally relate to this. it's trauma and it's tough, but she can get through it. but she needs us all to give her time and space. caroline, thank you for sharing your experience and we're very pleased that you are well. and, you know, we've just touched how many people are touched on how many people are touched on how many people are touched and many families touched and how many families are by cancer. yeah. and are touched by cancer. yeah. and this is what coming through this is what is coming through thick fast. and many thick and fast. and so many people feel connected a more people feel connected at a more deeper now with katherine. >> indeed. and it's a reminder, michelle, that cancer afflicts all ages. it does. and you know, you often link it to lifestyle lung cancer. i've lost, you often link it to lifestyle lung cancer. i've lost , family lung cancer. i've lost, family members to lung cancer. they were smokers . other lifestyle were smokers. other lifestyle related issues. but cancer can also just strike you at any time. teenagers get it and by all accounts, princess katherine, a very healthy woman

in the prime of life, has received this diagnosis. so in the prime of life, has received this diagnosis . so yes, received this diagnosis. so yes, it's the great leveller. we can just hope and pray like your viewers are saying on email that she'll make a speedy recovery. the well of goodwill towards her is unlimited. and on is absolutely unlimited. and on my show in the last few weeks , my show in the last few weeks, when we debated debating that i was on air when the news broke that the mother's day photograph had been pulled by several major news agencies, immediately my viewers saying, leave the viewers were saying, leave the woman alone. stop talking about this. let her recover . this. let her recover. >> dramatic the way they did that. i remember seeing all of the news alerts flashing. it was like a kill notification or whatever it was. it was like, calm down. yeah, like calm down. who doesn't even edit? i mean, i'm not suggesting that you don't look the same as your social media. oh, how dare you. michelle, who does smoking mirrors their pictures in this day and age. but yet the standards that we seem to be holding these people is holding these people to is so different. anna in different. anna has got in touch. she says, can i just say,

michelle, what a brave, brave woman katherine is to sit there and open our hearts about her medical condition. i've never been so impressed by his statement of such personal details, and it just shows how strong she is and we all should be so very proud of her. you are absolutely , very welcome to join absolutely, very welcome to join in our conversation tonight. vaiews@gbnews.com is how you reach me and be part of this. all your thoughts are welcome tonight. if you have just joined us, i will just take a moment to play us, i will just take a moment to play it for you. a video message that we've just been discussing there from the princess of wales, to you . wales, catherine, to you. >> i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst i've been recovering from surgery, it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but i've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me for which i'm so grateful.

back in january , i underwent back in january, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london and at the time it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous . the surgery was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful, however , tests after successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present . my the operation found cancer had been present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment . early stages of that treatment. this, of course, came as a huge shock , and william and i have shock, and william and i have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. privately for the sake of our young family . as you can young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time . it imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. but most importantly , it has taken us importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way that's appropriate for them. and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay. as i've said to them, i am well and getting

stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me healin on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. it means so much to us both. we hope that you'll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy. while i complete my treatment . my work has always treatment. my work has always brought me a deep sense of joy , brought me a deep sense of joy, and i look forward to being back when i'm able. but for now, i must focus on making a full recovery . at this time, i'm also recovery. at this time, i'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. lives have been affected by cancer . for everyone facing this cancer. for everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. you are not alone . hope. you are not alone. >> you're certainly not alone. i'm michelle dewberry and you're here with us on gb news. you can

join the conversation tonight gbviews@gbnews.com. i know that many of you are very , very many of you are very, very shocked and saddened by this news today, so many people getting in touch, the tears are flowing , she is getting in touch, the tears are flowing, she is an angel and we love her so, so much . actually, love her so, so much. actually, the church of england, they have issued a prayer for the princess of wales. it says, gracious god, we pray for the continued recovery of the princess of wales, for her husband and for their family. wales, for her husband and for theirfamily. grant wales, for her husband and for their family. grant to them and to all who are affected by sickness, faith, hope and the knowledge of your love through jesus christ our lord. amen so many tributes are coming in from everyone that you would imagine all of the political leaders , all of the political leaders, from you at home as well. i've read to you already rishi sunak,

sent laments, keir starmers sentiments as well . nigel farage sentiments as well. nigel farage he's been tweeting today. awful news, he says, to hear that the princess of wales is having cancer treatment. he says the media who attacked her over the recent photograph should hang their heads in shame . sadiq khan their heads in shame. sadiq khan he, also sending out a message as well. he says on behalf of londoners, i wish the princess of wales a swift recovery as she undergoes treatment. my thoughts are with her and her family. cancer has an impact on so many of us and her bravery in sharing her diagnosis will help raise awareness and encourage others to get checked. will it? when you hear the news of this? because of course you'll be familiar by now of course, with the fact that, our king, he shared, didn't he, private medical information initially about an enlarged prostate . and about an enlarged prostate. and if you recall there, he very much said that the reason that he was sharing that news was because he wanted to encourage

people to go out and to get checked and all the rest of it, and this is one of the things, mark, that sadiq khan is picking up on that actually, this, openness will perhaps encourage others to go and get checked. well, definitely . well, definitely. >> and it was so unprecedented when the king revealed his cancer diagnosis , and we were in cancer diagnosis, and we were in a similar state of shock then, that the only way that you can compare the two cases is that catherine is a lot younger than charles, and older men do suffer from conditions like prostate cancer or cancer related to a prostate problems, but i think that this is the new look royal family post. elizabeth, you know that they are more open, that they're willing to be perceived as fragile human beings that can get ill like the rest of us. and i think they will do the cause of cancer a great service with their openness at this time. i mean, i understand that men getting their prostates checked out something like quadruple

after the king's diagnosis, which will likely have saved lives, and you know, when we get more information, more detail on what catherine's been through, then perhaps the cancer that she's been affected by will also get more attention and more pubuc get more attention and more public recognition. i mean, it is important young women can can get cervical cancer and all the rest of it, very sadly, this disease often goes undiagnosed and in the case of jade goody, the reality star, she passed away with, with, cervical cancer and that had gone undiagnosed. so, yes, i think the royal family it's a different approach, but it's a positive one because it's about educating everybody in relation to the threat of this disease . threat of this disease. >> indeed. well, i'm pleased to say that i'm joined by doctor frank spence. she's a clinical research doctor in oncology . she research doctor in oncology. she good evening to you, doctor, one of the things we've just been touching on there is the sense that by opening up like this,

princess catherine will inspire more people to actually go and perhaps look again at things that they might have noticed in their own health. >> yeah, absolutely. i think, you know, kate said in her speech , that she was undergoing speech, that she was undergoing a and the sample was a procedure and the sample was found have cancer it. so found to have cancer in it. so that indicates that they weren't originally doing the procedure with diagnosis in with a known cancer diagnosis in mind. i think it's a great mind. and i think it's a great thing that they're sharing this information because so information publicly because so many cancer patients feel really alone. they feel like their alone. and they feel like their bodies let them down. but we know that i in 2 people will unfortunately develop cancer in our lifetime. and think this our lifetime. and i think this really shows it's it really shows that it's it affects of us. and affects many more of us. and people aren't alone with that. >> and for anyone that's >> yeah. and for anyone that's just, tuning in, when you listen to , the message that i've just to, the message that i've just actually played, i mean, i have to be clear, the palace and the royal family have made it very clear that there will not be releasing any more information in terms of what type of cancer or what stage of cancer or any further information actually

about the treatment they want princess catherine's privacy to be and many people be respected and many people will absolutely concur with that. but one of the things the princess catherine actually said herself , within princess catherine actually said herself, within this princess catherine actually said herself , within this video princess catherine actually said herself, within this video was that she is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy . of preventative chemotherapy. she's in the early stages of that treatment for anyone , that treatment for anyone, unfamiliar with what that is, can you just help people understand it? >> yeah, absolutely. so sometimes when we undergo procedures for cancer, such as surgery or other treatments such as radiotherapy, you can give a course of chemotherapy after the surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer cells coming back. so even though the bulk of the cancer has been removed through that surgical procedure , there's that surgical procedure, there's always a chance that some cancer cells may have escaped and kind of lingering in the blood or other parts of the body that are so small that you can't see them on a scan or through surgery. and so you can give some chemotherapy , which is given chemotherapy, which is given systemically. so an

systemically. so through an infusion the vein , to infusion through the vein, to mop up any potential cancer cells that could have escaped and to reduce the likelihood of the coming back the the cancer coming back in the future. it quite common practice. >> yeah. thank you very much. that's doctor frank spence. there thank you for your insight. one of my viewers, steve in devon, says michelle, this is being felt by people the world over. he's american. friends have been sending him messages about how shocked and upset they are. he says they absolutely love her, pam in weybridge, she says, can i get in touch, please ? to give my in touch, please? to give my love and my support to this remarkable young woman ? she is remarkable young woman? she is in my prayers, as will indeed her whole family be. she says. i am a survivor of cancer treatment myself. my heart goes out to her. she says her bravery and giving us this video news tonight will give so many people hope and courage as it has to me, she says. we love you,

catherine, and we wish you well from the bottom of our hearts . from the bottom of our hearts. that's our view there. pam in weybridge. thank you for sharing your thoughts, cameron, you mentioned as well that we've received a statement from the king earlier. just remind us what that said. >> yes. a buckingham palace spokesperson. so his majesty is and the spokesperson says so proud of catherine for her courage in speaking as she did . courage in speaking as she did. of course, they were both in hospital at the same time. he was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate as was enlarged prostate as she was recovering from abdominal recovering from her abdominal surgery at the london clinic. and spokesperson says and the spokesperson says following time in hospital following their time in hospital together, his majesty has remained closest contact remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter in law throughout past weeks . both throughout the past weeks. both their majesty's, that's the king and will continue to offer and queen will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time. and speaking of the family and difficult the whole family and difficult time, i think we need to perhaps spare thought for prince spare a thought for prince william here, father has william here, whose father has not diagnosed with not only been diagnosed with cancer , but now his wife has as

cancer, but now his wife has as well, and he is going to have to balance looking after his wife, his three young children, all ten under, as well as carry ten and under, as well as carry out his constitutional duties as heir apparent. future king, with his father also having cancer. so we're told by kensington palace that he's going to balance his his role, much like he has done over the last few months following the princess's abdominal surgery, where he will spend a lot of time clearly behind the scenes supporting his family. but he will be doing odd engagements as well. but perhaps not as many as we would otherwise him to otherwise expect him to be carrying out . carrying out. >> yeah, and you see, that is the thing, because it's going to be kind of speculation. be so much kind of speculation. when's going return to when's she going to return to duties? going do? duties? what's she going to do? you whenever she's you know what? whenever she's good yeah quite good and ready. yeah quite frankly. yes okay. she good and ready. yeah quite fran a y. yes okay. she good and ready. yeah quite fran a royal yes okay. she good and ready. yeah quite fran a royal role yes okay. she good and ready. yeah quite frana royal role and okay. she good and ready. yeah quite frana royal role and yesy. she good and ready. yeah quite fran a royal role and yes she's has a royal role and yes she's loved by many. and yes, she's going to be wanted to be seen by many. but first and foremost , many. but first and foremost, she's an individual. she's a mummy. she's a wife . and as she mummy. she's a wife. and as she says in her statement, her

primary focus right now is on getting her strength back. her mind, her body, her soul, focusing on being, well, mind, her body, her soul, focusing on being, well , she focusing on being, well, she says, i am. well, i'm getting stronger every single day. and, i mean, she really has just touched. she just touched so many people. you'll see it yourself, mark. the viewers just getting in touch and just say thank you. thank you for sharing this. you've given i've just read out the viewer there that's given, courage and hope to them, to viewers too. yes. to the viewers too. yes. >> i mean, she's a princess, one of the most famous people in the world, one of the most beautiful women in the world. and they're confirmed by, by our brilliant royal expert actually , royal expert that actually, she's the most popular royal as well. interesting that cameron points that out, but she's very human, part of me feels sad that she had to go on camera to make that statement and that a written statement wouldn't be enough. but i think it's a legacy of the mother's day photograph, which , like you say,

photograph, which, like you say, perhaps the news agencies overreacted to it . but what it overreacted to it. but what it did is it set speculation rife about her condition, her whereabouts, her welfare. and that was at the root of why i think this video happened. today is a desire to kill the rumours, to end the conspiracy theories, and to lay it out that this is what she's going through. yeah >> and just for the avoidance of doubt, actually, i'm told that no edits . doubt, actually, i'm told that no edits. this doubt, actually, i'm told that no edits . this is doubt, actually, i'm told that no edits. this is from the doubt, actually, i'm told that no edits . this is from the press no edits. this is from the press association. no edits were made to the video message that we've just the princess of wales. >> sad state of affairs, though, that are already starting that people are already starting to or edited ? i to consider. or was it edited? i mean, a bit ridiculous. mean, it's a bit ridiculous. i actually that's pretty actually think that's pretty sad. yeah, it's me that's actually made me quite sad that they feel the need to issue a statement saying essentially that's an authentic message. and to just pre—empt what everyone's going to do, we're going to kind of head that off the pass. this is an unedited message. yeah. at the heart, a sad state of affairs. >> at the heart of this is a 42 year old mother of three young children whose recently been

diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment . undergoing treatment. >> one of my, viewers, clive, who's just been in touch , said who's just been in touch, said michelle. a few weeks ago, was michelle. a few weeks ago, i was given the clear from having given the all clear from having lung he says, my heart lung cancer, he says, my heart goes to the princess and to goes out to the princess and to william and to the kids. he says , i just want to tell everyone there is always light at the end of the tunnel. yes, indeed, there is . if you are just there is. if you are just joining us, i'll bring you up to speed because catherine, the princess of wales, she has issued a video message to all of you . she wants to update you on you. she wants to update you on her situation in a second. i shall hand over to mark dolan, my colleague, for him to pick up for now. thank you for your company, and i shall leave you to listen to her message. >> i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding thing. whilst i've been recovering from surgery , it

been recovering from surgery, it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family. but i've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which i'm so grateful . in january, i so grateful. in january, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london, and at the time it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous . the condition was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present . my cancer had been present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment . this, of of that treatment. this, of course, came as a huge shock , 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. privately for the sake of our young family . as you can young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time . it imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. but most importantly , it has taken us importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a

way that's appropriate for them. and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay. as i've said to them, i am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me healin on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. it means so much to us both. we hope that you'll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy. while i complete my treatment . my work has always treatment. my work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and i look forward to being back when i'm able. but for now, i must focus on making a full recovery at this time. i'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. lives have been affected by cancer . for everyone facing this cancer. for everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or

hope. you are not alone . hope. you are not alone. >> the princess of wales, they're making a statement today regarding her cancer diagnosis. let's get further reaction from royal journalist and broadcaster pandora forsyth. pandora your reaction to this news? did you see this coming ? see this coming? >> yeah. terribly, terribly sad news in this evening, there's been so much speculation online, and really quite some horrible parts of the internet have, have come out , and parts of the internet have, have come out, and now we've parts of the internet have, have come out , and now we've seen come out, and now we've seen this video message. well i hope that will stop the trolling , that will stop the trolling, that will stop the trolling, that has been so prevalent over the past couple of months or so terribly sad news. and i don't want to focus on that. but i do think it is important to note, the princess of wales being so open, as the whole world has been looking at her as what it

seems through a microscope and everything the royal family are doing at the moment. and in this message, despite the fact that she has had this terribly sad news in, she's evidently made very clear. now she wants privacy, and that's something that we should respect. and the space and time for her to go through this preventative kingdom therapy, which she's now in the early stages of getting . in the early stages of getting. >> well, she has requested privacy. will she get it? pandora i hope so, i really do, and i'm sure that the prince of wales will very much be by her side. the king has released a statement as well this evening, speaking about his beloved daughter in law and how brave she is for opening up about this and how brave she is opening up about this on camera, as well, and being so open about it and

extremely private, health health diagnosis which anyone you know, their there are 3 million people right now in the uk with with cancen right now in the uk with with cancer, and she has been so open about this she, she didn't have to be. i just want to make that clear. she did not have to be, it's her health diagnosis, but she's decided to be open about it , and, you know, our thoughts it, and, you know, our thoughts are with her and the family and, of course, her young children , of course, her young children, who she has said that's essentially her priority. and having to explain this to them , having to explain this to them, i think anybody who's been affected by cancer will will wholeheartedly agree just how difficult , that that has to be. difficult, that that has to be. deaung difficult, that that has to be. dealing with yourself on a worldwide stage, but also having to break it to your loved ones as well. it's just a it's just heartbreaking , what did you make

heartbreaking, what did you make of her delivery of this statement? i mean, a written statement? i mean, a written statement would have been the norm. why do you think she decided to make this film ? and decided to make this film? and how hard do you think it was for her to make it in the first place? >> extremely difficult. >> extremely difficult. >> i mean, you can tell from the way that she. she stops and looks down and really tries to, you know, compose herself and say what she really does feel the need to share, and as i said, she didn't need to share as much as she did. said, she didn't need to share as much as she did . she's as much as she did. she's commenting on her young children. they're too extreme close to her heart, and, she knows that this message will have hit every single newspaper broadcast outlet , have hit every single newspaper broadcast outlet, radio have hit every single newspaper broadcast outlet , radio station, broadcast outlet, radio station, wherever you're listening. she knows that that will have gone everywhere within the minute of it being released. it's, an extremely pressured environment, i imagine. as she said, she's looking after her mind as well

at the moment, as well as physically , evidently by getting physically, evidently by getting this, preventative of, chemotherapy, which she's now in the early stages of getting. and of course, when you're getting chemotherapy , we don't know the chemotherapy, we don't know the ins and outs of it. and of course, she's more than entitled to keep that to herself. and i don't think we would need to know, to be quite frank, but not not a lot of people would be very comfortable with on very comfortable with being on camera being so open about camera and being so open about it if they knew it was on a world wide stage. so you know, credit to her and she's evidently got the support of all her family around her, the king as well, as well as her husband, who she said, you know, being by her side throughout all of this is bringing great comfort to her. but now she needs time, understandably, to rest and recoup, and go through this , recoup, and go through this, through this awfully, awfully sad time. but i'm sure she is. she is stressed to her children

as well that she is. well, despite all of this, pandora forsyth, royal author, thank you so much forjoining me on the show, let me tell you that with us is our royal correspondent, cameron walker. and also my friday friends for friday night live are much more sombre edition of the show this evening. i'm delighted to have comedian sajeela kersh and the barrister and broadcaster gerry hayes. cecilia, your reaction to this news? >> it's absolutely shocking because i heard it just before i left home to come here today, and actually everything makes sense, i think any family in the country will have been affected by cancer and the way that she's reacted actually makes perfect sense , i'd say a few years ago. sense, i'd say a few years ago. you want to think about your family, how to break it to them. how so? you want that privacy you also, you need to keep a you know, she kept saying about

being positive. and that's absolutely right. you have to keep positive outlook, i think keep a positive outlook, i think she a really good message she gave a really good message out all who are out to all those who are suffering. but yeah, absolutely shocked . and you know, we just shocked. and you know, we just hope that she gets better. nice >> definitely. jerry this has just shocked a nation really hasn't it. we knew that catherine was quite unwell . the catherine was quite unwell. the procedure happened in january. we were told she'd be out of action till easter. so something serious happening . but that serious was happening. but that word cancerjust has strong word cancer just has strong resonance. doesn't it? yeah it does. >> and it's weird how it affects us all. i just come back from a very good lunch with robert powell. do you remember? jesus christ, wonderful actor. oh, great. he's 80. is that wonderful? yeah. and i was coming back with a spring in my step. i'm going to see all my friends on this programme. we're going to have a bit of a laugh because friday evening because it's friday evening and suddenly producer me suddenly your producer rang me up kate has got up and said, kate has got cancen up and said, kate has got cancer. yeah. and you know, i know it sounds so creepy and stupid, but i did shed a tear

and i think i don't know her, i suspect that's how it's going to affect the nation. i suppose the next thing, it's something that cameron will be thinking about. how is it going to affect prince harry? how is it going to affect the royal family? could this bnng the royal family? could this bring them together? could this be the moment? >> what do you think about that? i mean, if this doesn't cause theice i mean, if this doesn't cause the ice caps to melt, nothing will surely. >> well, i suspect , to be >> well, i suspect, to be honest, i think whatever prince harry and meghan do, they're damned if they do , damned if damned if they do, damned if they don't. i suspect they probably reach in probably would reach out in private, although we've had no confirmation that, giving confirmation of that, giving a big statement, wishing them all the best. clearly lots of people would they're trying to would just say they're trying to attract attention for themselves . so i think it is a tricky situation for them. as for the other members of the royal family, have had statement family, we have had a statement from palace from a buckingham palace spokesperson, hour ago spokesperson, around an hour ago now, his is now, saying that his majesty is so proud of catherine for her courage speaking she did courage in speaking as she did following their time in hospital together. because of course, we

had the king and the princess in hospital the same his hospital at the same time. his majesty has remained in closest contact beloved contact with his beloved daughter throughout the daughter in law throughout the past both the king and past weeks. both the king and the queen continue to offer the queen will continue to offer their and support to the their love and support to the whole family this whole family through this difficult is difficult time and it is a difficult time and it is a difficult time and it is a difficult time for the royal family. three cancer diagnoses plus very death of plus the very sad death of thomas kingston well . thomas kingston as well. >> indeed, been a very, >> indeed, it's been a very, very time for the family. very tough time for the family. well, we now have reaction from gb star nigel farage. take gb news star nigel farage. take a listen. well i suspect my reaction was the same as a huge number of people. >> i felt really quite emotional about it and genuinely quite upset. you know, here's a young mother with three kids, beautiful woman doing an amazing job for the country, and she's the best of the royals . and i the best of the royals. and i just felt very sad, very emotional . and it's funny, you emotional. and it's funny, you know, but we live our lives through the royal family. michael cole said this a couple of years ago on gb news, and any

happiness or sadness in the royal family reminds us of things with our lives that have gone well or gone badly. so yeah, really upset . yeah, really upset. >> well indeed, we're going to be processing this news for a long time to come. what do you make sajeela of the princess of wales's decision to make a video, rather than just issue a written statement? >> i think that that's that's very courageous. i agree with her. the king, the father in law , because it actually connects with us in a different way than an impersonal, email or a press release. so i think that that was actually a very brave thing to do, because you have to come to do, because you have to come to terms with a diagnosis like that yourself. that takes time in itself. and then, you know, obviously, to relate to loved ones, but to tell the whole world, i think that was incredibly of her to incredibly courageous of her to do obviously, like i said, do that. obviously, like i said, it's just her being it's not just her being affected, but the fact that she has mentioned it, she has talked about i is going to

about it, i think is going to help others in similar situations, jerry cameron walker earlier was saying that actually princess wales is the most princess of wales is the most popular royal according to recent polls . recent polls. >> well, public support for her is going to go into the stratosphere now, isn't it? >> yes it is, and rightly so. it's just so sad. we have those pictures there which we can see on the screen. and the big deal was, oh, had they been manipulated in any way, some people might say they had been, but at the end of the day, she has come forward, as did the king, and said, we have got a problem with cancer. no royal members of the family have said that before. >> well, most definitely it is a truly extraordinary. and this news will be weighing heavily. cameron walker on the mind of the king. >> yes, it certainly will be. and clearly his majesty was informed before the public announcement at 6:00 this

evening, and he will have some idea of what catherine's going through, because he himself, of course, continuing , course, is continuing, treatments for cancer himself . treatments for cancer himself. slightly different situation, of course. his majesty is head of state. he is carrying on with constitutional duties. and there is more of a legitimate public interest to know what's going on with the health of monarch . with the health of the monarch. but the princess, she but with the princess, she didn't to release didn't have to release a statement want to, statement if she didn't want to, but to. and a but she chose to. and in a personable way, in the form of directly speaking to gb news viewers and listeners and other members of the british public, as well. rather than releasing a statement, it was her words , the statement, it was her words, the way she wanted to deliver them. and i think that's very courageous. >> but it's camilla who is running queen camilla is running the firm and that's amazing because a few years ago she was regarded as a bad woman . now she regarded as a bad woman. now she is effectively in charge. >> and of course, like all senior members of the royal family her role will be pivotal going forward because it is a

trauma for the royal family. it's a trauma for princess catherine herself, the princess of wales and a trauma for the country, we've had so many emails gb views at gb news. com or market gbnews.com will be covering this story non—stop for the next hour . it is 8:00. covering this story non—stop for the next hour. it is 8:00. this is friday night live with me. mark dolan, and we start the show tonight with the video message, the princess of wales, released at 6 pm. this evening. take a listen . take a listen. >> i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding. whilst i've been recovering from surgery , it has recovering from surgery, it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family. but i've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which i'm so grateful . in january, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london, and at the time it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous .

my condition was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present . my medical team present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment . early stages of that treatment. this, of course, came as a huge shock , and william and i have shock, and william and i have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. privately for the sake of our young family . as you can young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time . it imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. but most importantly , it has taken us importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way that's appropriate for them. and to reassure them that i'm going to be okay. as i've said to them, i am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me healin on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits . having william by my spirits. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, as

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