Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced Monday that she had completed her course of chemotherapy following a shock cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

The announcement will provide welcome relief for Britain’s royal family after a troubled year in which head of state King Charles III also revealed he was battling cancer.

“I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” Kate, as she is often called, said in a message on X and Instagram.

The princess, 42, said the last nine months had been “incredibly tough” for the family—her husband Prince William and their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

“Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown,” she said.

Catherine, a future queen seen as a key figure in maintaining the royals’ position in a changing Britain, added that “doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus.”

“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she said.

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“I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

Catherine announced in March that she was undergoing a course of “preventative chemotherapy” for an undisclosed cancer.

– Solidarity –

The announcement came just weeks after it was disclosed that her father-in-law had also been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing treatment for a benign prostate.

Charles, 75, was given the green light to resume public duties in April after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by his progress.

The video message shows Catherine and William looking relaxed and happy with their children in the Norfolk countryside in eastern England, where they have a home.

The video was filmed last month, their Kensington Palace office said.

Catherine added in her highly emotional message that the months since her diagnosis had “above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”

“Everyone’s kindness, empathy, and compassion have been truly humbling,” she said.

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And she expressed solidarity with fellow cancer sufferers.

“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey, I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright,” she said.

Catherine has appeared in public on only a handful of occasions this year.

When she announced her cancer diagnosis in a video on March 22, she had not been seen in public since Christmas.

The disclosure came after royal officials said in January that Catherine would spend two weeks in hospital for abdominal surgery.

That announcement came shortly before a separate statement from Buckingham Palace that Charles was to have surgery.

He later spent three days at the same private hospital in central London. Officials then said in early February that tests had identified “a form of cancer,” without giving further details.

Catherine tentatively returned to UK public life in June, attending a military parade in London to officially mark Charles’s birthday.

In July, she attended the Wimbledon men’s final, at which she received cheers as she walked onto the court to present the trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

Here is a summary of the key dates for Charles and Catherine’s cancer diagnoses:

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January 17: Kensington Palace announces Catherine, Princess of Wales, is hospitalised for abdominal surgery (non-cancer-related). Buckingham Palace reveals Charles will undergo surgery for a benign enlarged prostate.

January 26: Charles undergoes surgery at The London Clinic, where Catherine is also recovering.

January 29: Both Charles and Catherine are discharged from the clinic.

February 5: Charles is diagnosed with cancer and begins treatment. He takes an indefinite break from public duties.

February 6: Charles makes a brief public appearance after his son, Prince Harry, visits him in London.

February 27: William pulls out of a memorial service, with reports suggesting Catherine had received her cancer diagnosis.

March 22: Catherine publicly announces she has cancer and has started chemotherapy, requesting privacy.

April 26: Charles begins a limited return to public duties after positive progress in his treatment.

June 14: Catherine announces progress in her treatment and attends the Trooping the Colour parade.

July 2024: Catherine attends the Wimbledon men’s tennis final.
September 9: Catherine reveals she has completed chemotherapy and is focusing on staying cancer-free while gradually returning to public duties.
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