White House wishes Princess of Wales a ‘full recovery’ after revealing her battle with cancer: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Catherine’
- Catherine, Princess of Wales, said on Friday she was undergoing treatment for cancer
- The White House postponed its daily briefing to begin after her announcement
The White House sent a message of support to Princess Catherine of Wales on Friday, wishing her a full recovery after she revealed she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
“We have just heard clearly… we have all just heard the terrible news,” said press officer Karine Jean-Pierre.
‘Our thoughts are with the Duchess of Cambridge and her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time and we certainly wish her a full recovery.’
Catherine was known as the Duchess of Cambridge before taking the title Princess of Wales.
Jean-Pierre spoke about her health during her daily briefing, which began minutes after Catherine released her statement.
“We just heard clearly… we all just heard the terrible news,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her regular White House briefing on Friday afternoon.
In an emotional video message filmed in Windsor on Wednesday, Catherine revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’.
The diagnosis came days after she was seen laughing with Prince William as they left their favorite farm shop near their home in Windsor.
“In January I had major abdominal surgery in London and at the time it was thought my condition was not cancerous,” she said, sitting on a bench in Windsor, surrounded by daffodils.
‘The operation was successful. However, tests after the surgery revealed that cancer was present.
‘My medical team therefore recommended that I undergo preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.’
Sitting on a bench in Windsor, surrounded by spring flowers, the Princess of Wales has taken the extraordinary step of revealing to the world that she has cancer
The Princess of Wales with her children in her Mother’s Day portrait, which has now taken on significance given her diagnosis
The Prince of Wales met President Joe Biden during a visit to Boston in 2022
Jean-Pierre added that she no longer has any say in any messages President Joe Biden or the first lady may have sent to the royal family.
“We want to make sure that we certainly respect their privacy at this incredibly difficult time, not only for her, but for her family as well,” she said.
She echoed the message from Kensington Palace, which urged the public not to speculate about Catherine’s health.
“She is extremely grateful to the medical team for the care they provide her,” the spokesperson said.
‘She now needs time, space and privacy to complete her treatment and make a full recovery.’