The Princess of Wales and King Charles are said to be “hugely heartened” by an outpouring of support from the public amid their ongoing cancer battles.
King Charles revealed last month he is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, while his daughter-in-law Kate on Friday announced in an emotional video that she too has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment.
The news has been met with a global outpouring of support, including from political figures such as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden, and members of the public.
Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, nephew of the King, told Sky News Australia: “For [Kate] and for the King, the outpouring of support for both of them and the well wishes for both of them to recover quickly has been hugely heartening.”
He described Kate as “remarkable”, adding: “Without a question, she and William make a fantastic team together.
“The kids are great and they have the balance of public life and trying to be parents to three young children which is always difficult - I think they've got it pretty right.”
He added that King Charles is “in good spirits” but added that “ultimately he is hugely frustrated” and keen to return to his normal duties.
“He's frustrated he can't get on and do everything he wants to be able to do,” said Mr Phillips.
“But he is very pragmatic, he understands there's a period of time he really needs to focus on himself.
“But at the same time he is always pushing his staff and everybody - his doctors and nurses - to say ‘can I do this, can I do that?’”
“I think the over-riding message is he is obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality and he's probably frustrated that his recovery is taking a little longer than he would want it to.”
On Friday evening Kate told the world that tests performed after she underwent major abdominal surgery in January found cancer and that she is now undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
“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,” she said in her video.
She urged others affected by cancer: “Please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
Buckingham Palace has said Charles is “so proud” of his “beloved” daughter-in-law for her courage in speaking about her treatment.
Words of support have also come from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who said: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
The couple are also understood to have reached out in private to Kate and William.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, Kensington Palace said the Prince and Princess of Wales were “enormously touched” and “extremely moved” by the public’s warmth and support following Kate’s announcement.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.
“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.”
Meanwhile Prince William is “extremely proud” of the “courage and strength” Kate has exhibited throughout her illness, a royal source has told The Telegraph.
“William is extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week, but since her surgery in January,” the source told the newspaper.”
They added that William is now “focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared”.
