THE Princess of Wales and the King had a heart-to-heart at Windsor Castle hours before she announced she had cancer.
Charles, who also has the disease, travelled from London for a private lunch with his "beloved daughter-in-law" Kate on Thursday.
Kate was keen to speak to the 75-year-old King about his struggle and find out how he was coping.
It is believed the pair also talked about Kate’s video announcement in which she said the discovery was a “huge shock” but vowed she was “going to be OK”.
A source said of the Windsor Castle get-together: “It is highly unusual for just the two of them to sit down together like this.
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“The King had already been made aware that the woman he calls ‘my beloved daughter-in-law’ had cancer.
“They would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis.
“The King left his lunch feeling very emotional.
“They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter.
“There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”
It is understood Charles had been made aware of Kate’s cancer struggle before he travelled from London for the lunch.
Queen Camilla is also said to be a pillar of support and in regular contact with Kate.
Kate and hubby William have stepped back from work for several weeks to be with their children George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five.
PILLAR OF SUPPORT
Well-wishers today began leaving flowers at Windsor Castle for Kate.
She was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16 but it was not known then there was any cancer.
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She remained in hospital for 13 nights. Kensington Palace urged the world not to speculate and said she would be off work until April.
It has now emerged although the operation was “non-cancerous” subsequent tests found cancer was present.
In her own words, Kate revealed she took time to recover from the operation before starting a round of preventative chemotherapy.
The cancer treatment began at the end of February and was the reason William pulled out of a thanksgiving service around that time, citing a “personal matter”.
Kate’s disappearance from public view sparked vile and sickening abuse online and provoked wild and unfounded conspiracy theories.
The Sun exclusively revealed on Monday the Prince and Princess of Wales had been shopping at Windsor Farm Shop last weekend and watched their children play sport.
The King left his lunch feeling very emotional
Our video footage published 24 hours later, and shared around the world, showed Kate looking “relaxed and happy”.
Kate then filmed her personal message sitting on a bench in gardens at Windsor on Wednesday.
The video was released on Friday evening with Kate telling the world she was “getting stronger every day”, and had told her children “I will get better”.
After Charles announced on February 5 that he had cancer, Kensington Palace revealed Kate and Wills were in regular contact with the King.
Speaking to PM Rishi Sunak when they met last month, Charles said: “I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards, it’s reduced me to tears most of the time.”
The King has spent most of his weekdays at Windsor Castle but has regularly gone to London to carry out official royal duties at Buckingham Palace.
KING'S REST
He left Windsor Castle at 11am on Friday to rest for the weekend at his Highgrove House residence in Gloucestershire.
The Queen has been filling in at major engagements including a visit to Northern Ireland last week.
While there she told well-wishers her husband is “doing very well” and “very disappointed he couldn’t come”, for what was originally intended to be a joint visit.
Meanwhile Kate has been recuperating at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, with William, 41, and their children.
They will not attend the family Easter Sunday service which is expected to be held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
It is understood the King is hoping to lead the family to the ceremony at Easter.
The Queen, 76, is also hoping to join her husband for the service which is expected to be a scaled-down affair with only a handful of royals attending.
She stood in for Charles and William at a service of thanksgiving for the life of King Constantine II of Greece at the chapel in February.
Kate and William have now pleaded for privacy as they spend time together during their children’s school holidays.
Kate’s statement on Friday was issued to coincide with all three children finishing school term.
SHOCK STATEMENT
They are due back at Lambrook School, Berkshire, on April 17 and William will not return to work until then.
After Kate’s cancer statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty is so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.
“Following their time in hospital together, His Majesty has remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.
“Both Their Majesties will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment earlier tonight.
