25 March 2024 , 13:37
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Prince William made a very touching promise to Princess Kate's parents - one that has been made all the more poignant by her recent cancer diagnosis.
William and Kate are set to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary next month, and have known each other for more than 20 years after meeting as students at St Andrews University. The couple had markedly different upbringings, with William born into royalty while Kate enjoyed a relatively normal middle-class childhood.
So when she agreed to marry William after he popped the question during a romantic trip to Kenya, Kate would have known it would be life-changing in more ways than one.
Carole is said to understandably be 'desperately upset' by Kate's cancer diagnosis (Getty Images)And to prove his love for his future wife, William is said to have made a personal vow to Kate's parents Carole and Michael - that he would always take care of her.
According to the Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English: "He, more than anyone, knew the personal sacrifices she was making to be with the man she loved." And, given Kate's current health struggle, she added: "It's why I know he will bend heaven and earth to be at her side now and do the best for their little family. However long it takes."
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The Princess bravely revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video shared on 22 March. It's thought she waited until her three young children had broken up from school for the Easter holidays, so that she and William could better shield them from public attention caused by the announcement.
Carole and Michael Middleton, Kate's parents, have already rallied round to help their daughter's family. It is believed they knew of the cancer diagnosis when Kate found out.
Although Carole, 69, is "desperately upset", a royal expert says she and husband Michael, 74, have prioritised their little grandchildren; Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis. Carole's clan was described as "quite an ordinary family unit"; something which it is said will benefit the kids and William during Kate's cancer journey.
Royal commentator and biographer Duncan Larcombe told the Mirror: "I think Carole and Michael will be supporting the family a lot. I think they were made aware of [the cancer] when Kate was made aware of it, and have played an important part in supporting the family since.
"They'll have rallied around her, especially her young family. Carole and Michael will have essentially thrown a safety blanket around the young children to help protect them. In times like this for Kate, it is hugely important. It is crucial the children are looked after carefully.
"William is very much like the adopted son to Carole and Michael Middleton - and he always has been. One of the things that has clearly strengthened William and Kate's relationship from the beginning was the fact that Kate came from a very tight-knit family. It is something that he has kind of lacked in his life, obviously losing his mother. So it is only natural [Carole and Michael] will step into the breach and support [the Waleses] throughout this in every way.
"The Middletons are the perfect antidote really to the pomp and pageantry of the Royal Family, because they are quite an ordinary family unit, which will be important to help aid Kate's recovery. I think what we will see now over the next coming weeks and months is William really focusing on the Middleton family and really being that adopted son."
Kate, 42, announced she had cancer in a filmed address, which was shot in the grounds of Windsor. In the poignant video, she said: "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."
The Princess added: "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."
She continued: "However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present," Kate continued, "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."
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On Saturday, Kensington Palace released a statement, which read: "The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message."