Prince William has provided an update on Princess Kate's health during his visit to St. Mary's Community Hospital on the Isles of Scilly, revealing that she is "doing very well" following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The Prince of Wales made the remarks on Friday when a member of staff inquired about Kate's condition, adding that their children are "very jealous" that he was visiting the hospital without them.
In March, Princess Kate announced that she was receiving "preventative chemotherapy" after doctors discovered that "cancer had been present" following abdominal surgery in January. Since then, the princess has stepped out of the public eye to focus on her treatment and recovery, while Prince William has resumed a scaled-down diary of working engagements.
"The children are very jealous that I'm here and that they're not here as well," William told Tracy Smith, the hospital administrator who greeted him upon arrival and hosted his tour of the small medical center. Ms. Smith suggested that the royal couple might like to come for a visit with their children later in the year, to which William replied, "Maybe we might come later in the year."
During his visit, William was also given a card for his father, King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, and for Kate by Matron Lynda McHale. The card, written by McHale's granddaughter, wished the King and the Duchess of Cornwall a speedy recovery.
This visit to the Isles of Scilly marks Prince William's first as the head of the Duchy of Cornwall, which owns most of the land and nearly a third of the residential buildings in the area. The small chain of islands is located on the southwestern coast of England in the Atlantic Ocean, close to the county of Cornwall.
Since Princess Kate's cancer announcement, the royal family has received an outpouring of support from fans and high-profile figures worldwide. World leaders, including President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron, have sent messages of support via social media. Members of the royal family, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have also expressed their well-wishes for Kate's recovery.
In her video statement in March, Princess Kate acknowledged the shock of her diagnosis and the time needed to process and manage the situation privately for the sake of their young family. She emphasized the importance of explaining the situation to their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in an appropriate manner and reassuring them that she would be okay.
As Prince William continues to undertake more engagements around Britain in the lead-up to the annual summer break in royal duties, Princess Kate is not expected to return to public life until she has completed her treatment and taken time to recover, based on the advice of her doctors. Kensington Palace has not set a provisional date for her return.
During his visit to the Isles of Scilly, Prince William also took the opportunity to enjoy some local traditions, treating his staff to a round of Cornish pasties from the harbour cafe and going for a swim in the waters around Tresco, where it is rumored that he spends breaks with his family.
