NBC News host Andrea Mitchell has praised the Princess of Wales for announcing her cancer diagnosis on camera after weeks of painful rumours.
The 77-year-old, who beat breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2011, appeared on MSNBC Reports on Friday, where she responded to Kate Middleton’s shock revelation.
“I just think she deserves a huge amount of gratitude,” Mitchell said. ‘I was so struck by the grace and poise that she brought to that announcement.’
The Princess of Wales, 42, announced she is undergoing ‘preventive’ chemotherapy in a deeply personal, unprecedented and emotional video message, recorded in Windsor on Wednesday.
She revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’ and that she and William ‘have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.
NBC News host Andrea Mitchell has praised the Princess of Wales for announcing her cancer diagnosis on camera after weeks of painful rumors
The 77-year-old, who beat breast cancer, appeared on MSNBC Reports on Friday, where she responded to Kate Middleton’s shock revelation. Pictured: Mitchell announcing his cancer diagnosis on air in 2011
NBC News chief foreign correspondent Mitchell praised the royal for sharing her diagnosis on camera despite suffering weeks of painful rumours.
“Obviously all the controversy and rumors had to be painful… and here she is, his (Prince William’s) beloved wife, going through a cancer diagnosis,” she said.
‘Going through a cancer diagnosis as a mother of three young children, at first she thought she was ready.’
She added: ‘After a very tough operation, and I know something about that sort of operation and how difficult any abdominal operation is, it’s generally a 6-8 week recovery.
‘You can’t even pick up a handbag, you can barely walk after that kind of operation for weeks.
“Then it’s a blow to find out, whatever the DNA test shows, that there was actually cancer.”
Mitchell reflected on her breast cancer diagnosis in 2011 and how she could relate to what Kate is going through.
“In my case, it was in the middle of a presidential campaign, the first thing I thought about was my career,” she said.
‘Well, she’s thinking about her children, she’s also thinking about her public role and how to go back and explain that it was cancer.
‘So deal with the physical side of this, it’s emotionally draining, physically draining.
‘She had a major operation, she had to recover from that operation before she could even start the preventive chemotherapy.’
Mitchell added: ‘This is something that is so important as a national issue and for her to speak as she did about the importance of chemotherapy, the importance of prevention, healing, of time to deal with her children is so important for everyone in this larger community.’
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
Mitchell discovered her breast cancer early after a routine mammogram in 2011
The Princess of Wales made the announcement from a bench surrounded by daffodils and spring flowers.
She said: ‘It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is suitable for them and to reassure them that I will be fine.
‘As I have told them; I feel good and get stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit.
‘Having William by my side is also a great source of comfort and reassurance. As well as the love, support and kindness shown by so many of you. It means so much to both of us.’
Her cancer was only discovered after she underwent major stomach surgery at The London Clinic in January.
Kensington Palace has said it will not share details about what type of cancer the princess has or what stage it is, and has asked people not to speculate.
Mitchell discovered her breast cancer early after a routine mammogram in 2011.
She underwent a mastectomy followed by delayed breast reconstruction to treat her cancer. The journalist has since called for early detection.