BRAVE Princess Kate told her children George, Charlotte and Louis "I'm going to be OK" after waiting for the right time to reveal her cancer diagnosis.
The mum-of-three, 42, released a touching video statement to reveal she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing "preventative chemotherapy".
In the video message, Kate Middleton said the news had come as a "huge shock" to herself, her husband Prince William and to their three young children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Now, Kate has stressed that she is not sharing the information because of speculation, but chose to do so because it was the "right time" for her kids.
Kate's voice cracked as she mentioned her children in the brave video statement released today, saying: "It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family but I have had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me for which I am so grateful.
"Most importantly it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be OK."
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She added: "As I have said to them. I am well and I’m getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind body and spirit."
And the mum thanked her husband William for being by her side in the video - which was filmed at Windsor on Wednesday.
Sitting on a bench as she delivered her video statement, the mum said: "This of course came as a huge shock. William and I have been doing everything I can to process this privately for the sake of our young family.
"Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too."
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More from Kate's emotional message...
- Kate reveals she's being treated for cancer
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wish Kate ‘health and healing’
- Kate's family share childhood photo and break silence
- King Charles says he’s ‘so proud’ of his daughter-in-law
- The Princess won’t return to royal duties until she’s cleared
- 'William is by my side' says Kate in shock cancer statement
- Kate's diagnosis 'was reason Will pulled out of service'
- Experts slam trolls who caused her more pain at a difficult time
The first-in-line to the throne recently cancelled attending an event due to a "personal matter" with it understood Kate's diagnosis was the reason behind the last minute cancellation.
It is understood she is hoping to make a full recovery and plans to return to engagements when she is ready.
The shock discovery was made after Kate underwent abdominal surgery at the London Clinic back in January.
Kate was last seen on public duty on Christmas Day and has been unable to carry out official engagements since the surgery.
Today, the 42-year-old released a personal video statement, saying there had initially been no signs of cancer following the successful surgery but a post-op test detected the disease.
The Princess of Wales was then advised to undergo preventative chemotherapy and is in the early stages of treatment.
In the rest of her statement, Kate touched on how she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Princess Kate's message in full
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have 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 am 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 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.
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. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.
As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing 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 will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.
My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope.
You are not alone.
She said: "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you personally for all the understanding whilst I’ve been recovering from surgery.
"In January I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time it was thought my condition was non cancerous - 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.
"As you can imagine this has taken time. It has taken time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
"As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both."
Kate also called for privacy and urged anyone else battling cancer to stay strong and "not lose hope".
"We hope that you will understand that as a family we now need some time space and privacy while i complete my treatment.
"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able but for now I must focus on making a full recovery at this time I am also thinking of all those lives affected by cancer.
"For everyone facing this disease in whatever form please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Princess Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery the day prior.
But on Saturday, royal fans were pleasantly surprised to spot Princess Kate out and about near her home at Windsor.
One told The Sun she looked “happy” as she stopped at the farm shop a mile from her Adelaide Cottage.
A witness at the farm shop in Windsor said: “Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.
“The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she could pop down to the shops.”
On Monday, we exclusively published a video of Kate and Wills - strolling side-by-side near the farm shop.
The couple carried bags of shopping as they wandered through the car park.
Kate, 42, dressed casually in a hoodie and leggings, while Wills was sporting a cap and blue jeans.
It's time to show Kate more respect, blasts Sun's Royal Editor
THE Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson says it's time cruel trolls lay off Kate as he gives his insight into her shock cancer diagnosis.
It is sometimes hard to remember and understand that this is a family and they are going through very tough experiences at the moment.
I find it very interesting that she does speak about how they've taken time, they've needed time, to process this information and also tell their three children George, Charlotte and Louis, which would be an incredibly difficult conversation.
A lot of people who have poked fun at Kate purely to gain hits online, such as Kim Kardashian, need to have a hard look at themselves and apologise for their behaviour.
People have been asking where's Kate? Well, she's been coping with this cancer diagnosis and having to tell her young family.
Much of the abuse has also come from so-called 'Sussex Squad' members on Twitter who are fans of Harry and Meghan. This has been a shameful episode and people should show the Princess of Wales more respect.
We know the Princess of Wales went into hospital for abdominal surgery in January. That surgery was successful and it was non-cancerous. However, subsequent tests have found cancer and at the end of February she embarked on the start of preventive chemotherapy.
They've taken time to process this and Kate has announced this to the world today.
They've chosen today because it is the last day of school for George, Charlotte and Louis and it means that they can now huddle together as a family for the next couple of weeks away from all the drama and really come together and deal with this cancer diagnosis.
A cancer diagnosis that Kate has said she has found shocking, but it's also a cancer diagnosis that many people around the world will listen to and will have sympathy for and empathy for because there are many families that are also going through this kind of situation and having to break the news to their children, as in this case.
Kate has been living her life in the spotlight for many, many years and there has been some very nasty stuff posted online. Lots of bullying, we would suggest, about Kate and about why she has been missing for the last couple of weeks.
We understand that wasn't a motivation for her coming out today to make the statement but it's obviously something that has dominated the front pages and dominated social media online. Questions about what has happened to Kate. Now she has answered it and said that while everyone has been discussing where she is, that actually she has been coping with the diagnosis of cancer and digesting this with her family.
She has told the rest of the Royal Family. The King - who also has his own diagnosis of cancer and is also undergoing treatment - has been made aware. The Royal Family will be circling the wagons.
I think she will be getting a huge amount of support from family and friends and she has spoken about how William, obviously, has shown her so much support.
They will now be off for a couple of weeks with the three children for Easter. William will return after the Easter holidays. And The Princess of Wales may well return.
She says she is full of hope, she says that she hopes that she will get better, she's told the kids that she will be OK.
So we may see The Princess of Wales in coming months attending engagements but we really do need to give her time as she has asked to see how the preventive chemotherapy gets on.
Timeline of Kate's health battle and recovery
JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess underwent surgery, saying she wants to “apologise to all those concerned” about her postponing upcoming engagements. The Princess is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
JAN 18: Supportive William spends time at Kate’s bedside in the clinic.
JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay reaches one week
JAN 29: Palaces announces Kate leaves hospital and returns home to rcover there
FEBRUARY 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to 'personal matter', sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate's health
MARCH 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate and snap published by international media
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day - then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she Photoshopped the photo - saying she lives “experimenting with editing”, and is then snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor, saying she looked “happy and healthy”
Mar 17: Onlookers see doting mum Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively publishes video of Kate and Wills from two days prior - with princess beaming as she chats to hubby Mar 20: The heir reportedly asks “when will it stop?” over wild theories flying about his wife
Crazy cynics have tried to say it's a body double walking with Wills in the clip from the weekend - or that it's not the royals at all.
This saw them slammed by royal experts alike - who dubbed them “poisonous”.
On Wednesday it was reported that Wills was now asking: "When will it stop?"
It was yesterday revealed the princess had been working from home while she was recovering.
SERIOUS SURGERY
It has been a difficult two months since the princess was admitted to hospital.
William, 41, visited his wife every day in hospital every day and took time off work to help her settle back home at Adelaide Cottage.
He has been carrying on the school run in an effort to make life as normal as possible for his young family.
Kate spent half term school holidays in February at Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, with William and their children.
The Palace released a sweet family photo of herself and her three children for Mother's Day - but was forced to apologise after it was revealed it had been edited.
'Lay off Kate'
THE Sun last week led the way in defending Princess Kate when she was being criticised from all angles over the edited photo saga.
Social media trolls were quick to attack the future Queen over her editing of a Mother’s Day family picture.
Media critics also weighed in with their opinions alongside the idiotic conspiracy theorists, but The Sun stood alone in saying: Lay off Kate.
Our front page blasted: “The furious attacks on the future Queen over her photoshopping of a Mother’s Day family picture are not just absurd.
“They now look like a bullying campaign against a devoted mum, recovering from a serious operation, who simply wanted to offer the public a perfect portrait of her and her kids.
“She meant well, made a mistake and fessed up. Fair enough.
“Now leave her alone to get over her op.”
The Photoshop mistake sadly led to a torrent of abuse hurled online at the Princess of Wales.
Kate apologised after the photo, saying: “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.
“I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”
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The Sun understood the princess had been under pressure to produce the best picture she could, and led with the front page headline ‘Lay Off Kate’.
Sources close to the couple have indicated that they have been affected by the vile social media lies.