This video scared me ... as if they were making a record of the kids with their beautiful mom just in case. My guess is she had colon cancer and has a ostomy bag -- per the clothing choices, that is my assumption. That is a very dangerous cancer, especially in people in their 40s. I think she will cut down on work now and attend big events and concentrate on her kids and her health, as she should. On the bright side, a lot of people with cancer are recovering and going on to live many healthy years. The other bright side is that William has a very worried face when he is worried, and he seems happy and relieved in these photos so I'm praying he knows that she is now cancer free and she is on my prayer list now. Crazy how much we love her, and truly don't know her, but she just seems to be an incredible person and great mom and sis and daughter and wife.
I thought the same thing you did about it being a record of a sweet time in case of darker days ahead, especially by including footage from inside their home and with her parents. It seems unprecedented to me, and while I am hopeful she will be just fine, this video, while extraordinarily beautiful, had an element of sadness to it.
While I personally found the video positive, it did occur to me that Catherine may be chosing her words carefully because of the commotion that occurred earlier this year, particularly with regards to her surgery (non cancerous, later found to be cancerous). She may also be accutely aware that while she's completed her chemo and hopefully cancer free, that is not the case for many cancer patients. And thus, she's trying to update everyone, while being mindful of other cancer patients and their respective journies.
Excellent analysis as usual Jane. Truth hurts sometimes but it must be faced. Your thoughts on this video are valid. When you've had cancer the thought that it may recur is never completely out of your mind. We will pray for the best and trust in God.
I am not a cancer survivor but I have several friends that are - anyway even years after treatment they continue with regular testing to make sure there is no trace of reoccurrence- so yes, her journey now is to continue to be cancer-free. There are no guarantees one way or another, but at this moment everything looks good.
I suspect a lot of those comments may be from people without a front row seat to cancer. I felt the same sense of concern watching it and your analysis tracks with my experience.
Jane, your analysis was spot on and the ugly comments you received were unwarranted. Someone commented earlier here that angry comments were coming from people “who never had a front row seat to cancer” and that is so true. I have been in that front row seat to my mother’s diagnosis 3 years ago. Once cancer enters your vocabulary, it never really leaves. The chemo might end but the 3 month, 6 month, yearly checkups with your oncologist remain. The port flushes linger for at least the first year. Your body is still recovering for months and sometimes years after. There is “scan-anxiety” any time upcoming blood work or scan is scheduled. It’s the constant “what if” of cancer returning. I think Kate would have done a disservice to make it seem like everything was perfect and she was smooth sailing, because as others have pointed out, that’s simply not the case. Her words touched me because it articulated the emotions my family have struggled with in private…how hard it can be to remain hopeful and look to the future while measuring life in oncology appointments.
The reason why, although hard, it’s important to not view the period after or during cancer treatment this way is because there are people who are diagnosed with terrible aggressive cancers that live a full life and die at an old age of something unrelated. I see it weekly. And all that time that was spent worrying or fearing cancer could come back was time that was spent unnecessarily in the long term.
As a side note Jane thank you for all the years during which you gave so many of us an outlet and a corner of joy here on the internet. Through your blog we have been able to step away from our own obstacles at different points in our lives to find quiet moments of happiness following along as you Kate watched. You have an army of followers praying for you and your family and wishing you all the very best.
What a beautiful, moving video but I do agree, Jane. It left me with a heavy feeling in my stomach for Kate. I will be praying for her as I have been. I worry the long-term lens of her prognosis may be more serious than the public has been told. (Rightfully so - I don't feel she owes the public intimate details of her health at this point.) Also, on X/Twitter I saw 2 royal reporters suggesting she is NOT understood to be cancer-free yet. Richard Palmer being one of the reporters. Unfortunately, my feed sucked up the other one & now I can't find it. Gosh, I hope and pray she is able to fully recover and live a long, healthy, happy life with her beautiful family.
I don't understand them saying she might not be cancer free. She said she was cancer free in her video last winter and that her treatment was preventative. If she was found to have active cancer anywhere, the treatment would be continuing. That said, of course, she never knows if it could come back. That will hang over her for a long time.
I think the phrasing of her video last March and also today is to protect her children. Remission is defined as the signs of symptoms of cancer have been reduced or eliminated. If we were to take her video today at face value based on words alone, we could rightly assume she is in remission, for now. If she is not in remission, then her situation is quite dire - is she doing radiation after chemo? Is it worse? I’m far more concerned now than I was after the video came out earlier today. For her office to insist she is not cancer free and not in remission, gives me enormous cause for concern about the true state of her health.
I agree 100% about William and Catherine being very careful with their wording to protect their children. I thought the same today watching the video. When I saw later on that her office is saying "not cancer-free/not remission"... I, too, became more concerned for her. I understand with cancer the terms are rather specific so maybe they are treading carefully but there was a tone to this, that to me, suggests this may be a more serious situation. I really hope not.
I think that the Wales are trying to stay as private as possible. They have created this visual treat with Catherine narrating but I doubt she’ll ever talk about what kind of cancer she has, her surgery, her treatment, her continued treatment. And that’s fine, but they understand from past mistakes that they need to give something and it’s these lovely videos of the family scampering in the dunes and through the forest, Will and Cath cuddling, little peaks inside their home…
One thing that could have happened is that after that video in early 2024 they found the cancer had spread to a lymph node or distant organ. And with continued treatment that specific focus of cancer cells might have disappeared and was no longer detectable by PET/CT scan or blood test markers. But the fact that she was not “cancer free” after surgery and some rounds of chemotherapy can mean the that the cancer has entered the blood supply or lymphatic vessels where it can disseminate throughout the entire body. (This possibility is exactly what Jane’s mom thought and commented on.) Once I read that her office was briefing that she is not cancer free or, said another way, that she still has evidence of cancer, the situation became much less optimistic for me.
I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for William. With all the trauma and sadness of losing his mother at a young age, he must be devastated during those quiet moments when he fears the same could happen to his own children. May God bless them all.
Exactly what has been so heavy on my mind and heart for William. Having lived through such a traumatic experience himself there must be enormous fear for his children experiencing anything close to the same. I pray not! What a stressful few years for William. I really feel for him.
I think it was a beautiful video: visually stunning and so poignant. The kids are loving and affectionate. The relationship Will and Kate have seems to have only grown stronger through this ordeal. I did not agree with your perspective that there’s cause for concern. But I am sorry so many people came out so angry. You’ve always been fair with your opinions. I hope they all come to remember that.
You are right, Jane. We simply don't know- her prognosis, what type of cancer? what stage it was at when discovered? These are all questions we will likely never know the answer to unless there are drastic changes to her health. All we can do is wish her the best and hope for a positive outcome.
Oh those photos are so beautiful. And I appreciate you, Jane, for sharing your own inner thoughts about what Kate's cancer battle might mean going into the future. It's uncomfortable to still be worried but, yeah, it's how so many of us think inside of ourselves who've watched the cancer battles.
My mother died of cancer back in 1968. She wasn't diagnosed in time, by the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. And it was 1968. But even in 1968, she probably would have survived had the doctor been more suspicious about her symptoms and not sloughed it off as something else. Then, 20 years later, 1988, my sister was diagnosed with a different type of cancer through a checkup. She hadn't kept up with her mammograms; too busy with her career. She went through an operation and it seemed that the prognosis seemed good. The cancer was localized and so she opted not to have chemotherapy but to take an easier course that would allow her to keep working at her very high powered job. Two years later, she started experiencing severe headaches and discovered that the cancer had metastasized. She lived another year.
She told me, as we had our last visit together, where we cried about all the missed opportunities past and future to be together (we'd lived thousands of miles apart), her biggest regret was that she hadn't hit the cancer with all guns blazing when she had the chance and that she'd put her career above her health; that she'd underestimated her foe. One of my closest friends has had two reoccurrences of her cancer, four years apart. Fifteen years after the last occurrence, she blesses that she DID go at it both times with guns blazing. It meant we only heard from her every few months (we live at a distance). It meant that she withdrew within herself for the fight of her life for about a year. But she's still here and she wrings every bit of joy from every day. She's my shining star.
At 72 these are only a few of the personal stories I have about cancer. I've had more friends be diagnosed, survive, as cancer diagnosis and treatment improve. But, no, it's not 100%. There are exceptions. The keys are early detection, submitting (being humble about it, as Kate says in the video) to intensive treatment and then following the guidelines. And drawing strength from the things that truly matter--loving family and friends, nature, pets (I see the dogs sneaked into a few frames), whatever brings us joy.
We need more of Kate's light in our lives and every time we think we succumb to the constant negativity we are getting in media now, we should watch that video again.
As usual, a great analysis. I do sense they are treading carefully in this video. She has always prioritized her family and seems to be feeling that this time with them is even more precious. I think Catherine will be seen but her future engagements will be curtailed.
I’m sorry you were criticized - many just want to hear the narrative that fits their desires.
Jane, what you have written is spot on. I had cancer at age 25, with a 3 month old baby and a 5 year old. Cancer is relentless and cunning. It is impossible to predict what it will do, and the fear is a part of the journey. I recovered and have had a full and healthy life. I am now approaching 81. I pray that her course will be like mine - with no more spread. The family will never be the same, but as time goes on in remission, the path will get smoother. Her family's support has been such a beautiful thing. I would wish that for every cancer sufferer. They are all in my prayers.
It is a lovely and touching video. The warmth and love between all of them (and her parents and the pup!!!). I am so happy to see this. It is my sincere hope her recovery continues smoothly and that we will more of her when she is ready. I do sense improvements though just by the sheer fact that William has multiple engagements planned over the next 2 weeks (and was just out last week). This tells me that things have moved into a new phase. I am not concerned per say, but I do feel cautiously optimistic. I do understand that cancer can be unpredictable, and I will continue to pray for good things!
I agree! I believe someone said it on here, but William does show his emotion on his face and he has seemed a lot lighter recently so I’m hopeful this new phase is well under way for them
Many people don’t realize that you can actually be sicker shortly after chemo than during, as it’s cumulative. This happened to me. Given her profile I’m sure she doesn’t want to risk looking visibly overwhelmed in public. It can also be very disorienting to return to the normal world so to speak after being in limbo during treatment. Finally, adjusting mentally to the new reality, especially as a mom of young kids, is a very difficult task. I did work throughout my treatment for a variety of reasons but I definitely understand why she has chosen this path - I do hope she can at least do some kind of promotion of her charities, maybe as part of her Christmas program.
This was such a beautiful video. I appreciate that they have given us such an intimate look at their lives. Of course we really don't know, but it seems like the closeness that this family has with each other isn't feigned and their love for each other is real and true. Jane's analysis, which perhaps isn't as positive as we would like, nonetheless rings true given that she is a cancer survivor herself. I adore Catherine and wish all good things and good health for her going forward.
For a slightly different (and more positive?) take on the video check out The Court Jeweler's post. The focus was on the jewelry, especially what appears to be a new eternity ring. The ring was highlighted in several shots, including one where Kate has her hand on William's back, indicating her support of the future monarch, and another one where she is hugging George with the ring front and center, indicating her support and presence in his life. May she have a very long and healthy life, supporting her husband and son and finding her own joy.
I never really liked Diana's ring myself (can I say that without sounding negative?) Didn't even like it when Diana wore it. It was just so, clunky and showy. I kept wondering how many times it got caught on the lovely silk dresses and outfits..... I love eternity bands. My dh gave me a solitaire for our engagement and of course I wore it but after ten years he bought me an eternity band and I've never worn the engagement ring again. And yes, considering all we'd gone through both before and since, the eternity band held and holds a lot more symbolism for me.
This video scared me ... as if they were making a record of the kids with their beautiful mom just in case. My guess is she had colon cancer and has a ostomy bag -- per the clothing choices, that is my assumption. That is a very dangerous cancer, especially in people in their 40s. I think she will cut down on work now and attend big events and concentrate on her kids and her health, as she should. On the bright side, a lot of people with cancer are recovering and going on to live many healthy years. The other bright side is that William has a very worried face when he is worried, and he seems happy and relieved in these photos so I'm praying he knows that she is now cancer free and she is on my prayer list now. Crazy how much we love her, and truly don't know her, but she just seems to be an incredible person and great mom and sis and daughter and wife.
I thought the same thing you did about it being a record of a sweet time in case of darker days ahead, especially by including footage from inside their home and with her parents. It seems unprecedented to me, and while I am hopeful she will be just fine, this video, while extraordinarily beautiful, had an element of sadness to it.
While I personally found the video positive, it did occur to me that Catherine may be chosing her words carefully because of the commotion that occurred earlier this year, particularly with regards to her surgery (non cancerous, later found to be cancerous). She may also be accutely aware that while she's completed her chemo and hopefully cancer free, that is not the case for many cancer patients. And thus, she's trying to update everyone, while being mindful of other cancer patients and their respective journies.
Excellent analysis as usual Jane. Truth hurts sometimes but it must be faced. Your thoughts on this video are valid. When you've had cancer the thought that it may recur is never completely out of your mind. We will pray for the best and trust in God.
I am not a cancer survivor but I have several friends that are - anyway even years after treatment they continue with regular testing to make sure there is no trace of reoccurrence- so yes, her journey now is to continue to be cancer-free. There are no guarantees one way or another, but at this moment everything looks good.
I suspect a lot of those comments may be from people without a front row seat to cancer. I felt the same sense of concern watching it and your analysis tracks with my experience.
Jane, your analysis was spot on and the ugly comments you received were unwarranted. Someone commented earlier here that angry comments were coming from people “who never had a front row seat to cancer” and that is so true. I have been in that front row seat to my mother’s diagnosis 3 years ago. Once cancer enters your vocabulary, it never really leaves. The chemo might end but the 3 month, 6 month, yearly checkups with your oncologist remain. The port flushes linger for at least the first year. Your body is still recovering for months and sometimes years after. There is “scan-anxiety” any time upcoming blood work or scan is scheduled. It’s the constant “what if” of cancer returning. I think Kate would have done a disservice to make it seem like everything was perfect and she was smooth sailing, because as others have pointed out, that’s simply not the case. Her words touched me because it articulated the emotions my family have struggled with in private…how hard it can be to remain hopeful and look to the future while measuring life in oncology appointments.
“Measuring life in oncology appointments.” Mmm. So hard and so true.
The reason why, although hard, it’s important to not view the period after or during cancer treatment this way is because there are people who are diagnosed with terrible aggressive cancers that live a full life and die at an old age of something unrelated. I see it weekly. And all that time that was spent worrying or fearing cancer could come back was time that was spent unnecessarily in the long term.
As a side note Jane thank you for all the years during which you gave so many of us an outlet and a corner of joy here on the internet. Through your blog we have been able to step away from our own obstacles at different points in our lives to find quiet moments of happiness following along as you Kate watched. You have an army of followers praying for you and your family and wishing you all the very best.
Outstanding remarks and beautifully written!! Thank you!
What a beautiful, moving video but I do agree, Jane. It left me with a heavy feeling in my stomach for Kate. I will be praying for her as I have been. I worry the long-term lens of her prognosis may be more serious than the public has been told. (Rightfully so - I don't feel she owes the public intimate details of her health at this point.) Also, on X/Twitter I saw 2 royal reporters suggesting she is NOT understood to be cancer-free yet. Richard Palmer being one of the reporters. Unfortunately, my feed sucked up the other one & now I can't find it. Gosh, I hope and pray she is able to fully recover and live a long, healthy, happy life with her beautiful family.
I don't understand them saying she might not be cancer free. She said she was cancer free in her video last winter and that her treatment was preventative. If she was found to have active cancer anywhere, the treatment would be continuing. That said, of course, she never knows if it could come back. That will hang over her for a long time.
I think the phrasing of her video last March and also today is to protect her children. Remission is defined as the signs of symptoms of cancer have been reduced or eliminated. If we were to take her video today at face value based on words alone, we could rightly assume she is in remission, for now. If she is not in remission, then her situation is quite dire - is she doing radiation after chemo? Is it worse? I’m far more concerned now than I was after the video came out earlier today. For her office to insist she is not cancer free and not in remission, gives me enormous cause for concern about the true state of her health.
I agree 100% about William and Catherine being very careful with their wording to protect their children. I thought the same today watching the video. When I saw later on that her office is saying "not cancer-free/not remission"... I, too, became more concerned for her. I understand with cancer the terms are rather specific so maybe they are treading carefully but there was a tone to this, that to me, suggests this may be a more serious situation. I really hope not.
KP is saying she’s not cancer free? Her post says “staying cancer free”. I’m hanging on every word trying to navigate the time of this video🤍
I think that the Wales are trying to stay as private as possible. They have created this visual treat with Catherine narrating but I doubt she’ll ever talk about what kind of cancer she has, her surgery, her treatment, her continued treatment. And that’s fine, but they understand from past mistakes that they need to give something and it’s these lovely videos of the family scampering in the dunes and through the forest, Will and Cath cuddling, little peaks inside their home…
One thing that could have happened is that after that video in early 2024 they found the cancer had spread to a lymph node or distant organ. And with continued treatment that specific focus of cancer cells might have disappeared and was no longer detectable by PET/CT scan or blood test markers. But the fact that she was not “cancer free” after surgery and some rounds of chemotherapy can mean the that the cancer has entered the blood supply or lymphatic vessels where it can disseminate throughout the entire body. (This possibility is exactly what Jane’s mom thought and commented on.) Once I read that her office was briefing that she is not cancer free or, said another way, that she still has evidence of cancer, the situation became much less optimistic for me.
I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for William. With all the trauma and sadness of losing his mother at a young age, he must be devastated during those quiet moments when he fears the same could happen to his own children. May God bless them all.
Exactly what has been so heavy on my mind and heart for William. Having lived through such a traumatic experience himself there must be enormous fear for his children experiencing anything close to the same. I pray not! What a stressful few years for William. I really feel for him.
I think it was a beautiful video: visually stunning and so poignant. The kids are loving and affectionate. The relationship Will and Kate have seems to have only grown stronger through this ordeal. I did not agree with your perspective that there’s cause for concern. But I am sorry so many people came out so angry. You’ve always been fair with your opinions. I hope they all come to remember that.
You are right, Jane. We simply don't know- her prognosis, what type of cancer? what stage it was at when discovered? These are all questions we will likely never know the answer to unless there are drastic changes to her health. All we can do is wish her the best and hope for a positive outcome.
Oh those photos are so beautiful. And I appreciate you, Jane, for sharing your own inner thoughts about what Kate's cancer battle might mean going into the future. It's uncomfortable to still be worried but, yeah, it's how so many of us think inside of ourselves who've watched the cancer battles.
My mother died of cancer back in 1968. She wasn't diagnosed in time, by the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. And it was 1968. But even in 1968, she probably would have survived had the doctor been more suspicious about her symptoms and not sloughed it off as something else. Then, 20 years later, 1988, my sister was diagnosed with a different type of cancer through a checkup. She hadn't kept up with her mammograms; too busy with her career. She went through an operation and it seemed that the prognosis seemed good. The cancer was localized and so she opted not to have chemotherapy but to take an easier course that would allow her to keep working at her very high powered job. Two years later, she started experiencing severe headaches and discovered that the cancer had metastasized. She lived another year.
She told me, as we had our last visit together, where we cried about all the missed opportunities past and future to be together (we'd lived thousands of miles apart), her biggest regret was that she hadn't hit the cancer with all guns blazing when she had the chance and that she'd put her career above her health; that she'd underestimated her foe. One of my closest friends has had two reoccurrences of her cancer, four years apart. Fifteen years after the last occurrence, she blesses that she DID go at it both times with guns blazing. It meant we only heard from her every few months (we live at a distance). It meant that she withdrew within herself for the fight of her life for about a year. But she's still here and she wrings every bit of joy from every day. She's my shining star.
At 72 these are only a few of the personal stories I have about cancer. I've had more friends be diagnosed, survive, as cancer diagnosis and treatment improve. But, no, it's not 100%. There are exceptions. The keys are early detection, submitting (being humble about it, as Kate says in the video) to intensive treatment and then following the guidelines. And drawing strength from the things that truly matter--loving family and friends, nature, pets (I see the dogs sneaked into a few frames), whatever brings us joy.
We need more of Kate's light in our lives and every time we think we succumb to the constant negativity we are getting in media now, we should watch that video again.
As usual, a great analysis. I do sense they are treading carefully in this video. She has always prioritized her family and seems to be feeling that this time with them is even more precious. I think Catherine will be seen but her future engagements will be curtailed.
I’m sorry you were criticized - many just want to hear the narrative that fits their desires.
I agree with your entire comment. Exactly what I’m feeling.
Jane, what you have written is spot on. I had cancer at age 25, with a 3 month old baby and a 5 year old. Cancer is relentless and cunning. It is impossible to predict what it will do, and the fear is a part of the journey. I recovered and have had a full and healthy life. I am now approaching 81. I pray that her course will be like mine - with no more spread. The family will never be the same, but as time goes on in remission, the path will get smoother. Her family's support has been such a beautiful thing. I would wish that for every cancer sufferer. They are all in my prayers.
Since Elon took over Twitter, I no longer use it. I use Threads. I do not want to support him in any way.
The ugly comments Jane received were on Instagram, which Threads is part of. So it’s not just a Twitter thing.
It is a lovely and touching video. The warmth and love between all of them (and her parents and the pup!!!). I am so happy to see this. It is my sincere hope her recovery continues smoothly and that we will more of her when she is ready. I do sense improvements though just by the sheer fact that William has multiple engagements planned over the next 2 weeks (and was just out last week). This tells me that things have moved into a new phase. I am not concerned per say, but I do feel cautiously optimistic. I do understand that cancer can be unpredictable, and I will continue to pray for good things!
I agree! I believe someone said it on here, but William does show his emotion on his face and he has seemed a lot lighter recently so I’m hopeful this new phase is well under way for them
Many people don’t realize that you can actually be sicker shortly after chemo than during, as it’s cumulative. This happened to me. Given her profile I’m sure she doesn’t want to risk looking visibly overwhelmed in public. It can also be very disorienting to return to the normal world so to speak after being in limbo during treatment. Finally, adjusting mentally to the new reality, especially as a mom of young kids, is a very difficult task. I did work throughout my treatment for a variety of reasons but I definitely understand why she has chosen this path - I do hope she can at least do some kind of promotion of her charities, maybe as part of her Christmas program.
This was such a beautiful video. I appreciate that they have given us such an intimate look at their lives. Of course we really don't know, but it seems like the closeness that this family has with each other isn't feigned and their love for each other is real and true. Jane's analysis, which perhaps isn't as positive as we would like, nonetheless rings true given that she is a cancer survivor herself. I adore Catherine and wish all good things and good health for her going forward.
For a slightly different (and more positive?) take on the video check out The Court Jeweler's post. The focus was on the jewelry, especially what appears to be a new eternity ring. The ring was highlighted in several shots, including one where Kate has her hand on William's back, indicating her support of the future monarch, and another one where she is hugging George with the ring front and center, indicating her support and presence in his life. May she have a very long and healthy life, supporting her husband and son and finding her own joy.
I noticed the ring too. No engagement ring. Hard earned and lovely. Hope we get to see it up close.
I never really liked Diana's ring myself (can I say that without sounding negative?) Didn't even like it when Diana wore it. It was just so, clunky and showy. I kept wondering how many times it got caught on the lovely silk dresses and outfits..... I love eternity bands. My dh gave me a solitaire for our engagement and of course I wore it but after ten years he bought me an eternity band and I've never worn the engagement ring again. And yes, considering all we'd gone through both before and since, the eternity band held and holds a lot more symbolism for me.