Home Australia Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement in royal style hours before Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis was announced

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement in royal style hours before Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis was announced

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In a video message, the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support and revealed that tests after her operation found cancer had been present

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back into the limelight just hours before it was revealed that the Princess of Wales has cancer.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were pictured at the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection’s event at SoFi Stadium yesterday as the couple ramp up their public engagements.

Last week, Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand ‘American Riviera Orchard’, while Harry was announced to speak at the two-day Better Up Conference in San Francisco.

Questions will now be asked about whether the couple will fly back to the UK to support their sister-in-law, who this evening announced she has cancer.

In a video message, the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support and revealed that tests after her operation found cancer had been present.

In a video message, the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support and revealed that tests after her operation found cancer had been present

In a video message, the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support and revealed that tests after her operation found cancer had been present

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from the spotlight hours before it was revealed that the Princess of Wales has cancer

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from the spotlight hours before it was revealed that the Princess of Wales has cancer

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from the spotlight hours before it was revealed that the Princess of Wales has cancer

TV personality Shaun Robinson posted a photo on Instagram today of Prince Harry and Meghan at the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection's event at SoFi Stadium

TV personality Shaun Robinson posted a photo on Instagram today of Prince Harry and Meghan at the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection's event at SoFi Stadium

TV personality Shaun Robinson posted a photo on Instagram today of Prince Harry and Meghan at the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection’s event at SoFi Stadium

The Princess of Wales’ speech in full

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding as I recover from surgery.

It’s been an incredibly tough few months for our whole family, but I’ve had an amazing medical team who have taken good care of me, for which I’m so grateful.

In January I underwent major stomach surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous.

The operation was successful.

However, tests after the operation showed that there had been cancer. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of pre-emptive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from a major operation to be able to start my treatment.

But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate 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.

We hope you will understand that we as a family now need some time, space and privacy while I finish my treatment.

My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to returning when I am able, but for now I must focus on my full recovery.

At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.

For anyone facing this disease, in whatever form, don’t lose faith or hope. You are not alone.

This means a third member of the royal family is battling cancer, including King Charles and Sarah Ferguson.

Last month, Prince Harry flew home for what turned out to be a 45-minute reunion with his father following his diagnosis.

Yesterday, in a video from the event posted on Instagram by screenwriter Matheos Coelho, Meghan could be heard saying: ‘I thought, oh my God, the extension of that might mean you’re vocal about your success, they’ll see you and say you deserved it.

‘And hopefully you get to that place… so a big thank you to the Kinsey family of course for not just having this incredible…’ Mrs Robinson, who is a supporter of the collection, said: ‘Thank you Duke & Duchess of Sussex and @thearchewellorganization to support @kinseycollection.’

In another post showing a panel discussion, she added: “Fantastic discussion last night supported by @thearchewellorganization and the Duke & Duchess of Sussex.”

Harry and Meghan live in nearby Montecito in a £12 million mansion with their children Prince Archie, four, and two-year-old Princess Lilibet.

It comes as Harry’s father King Charles III continues to undergo treatment for cancer – with Queen Camilla yesterday insisting he was ‘doing very well’.

Screenwriter Matheos Coelho posted a photo he took with Meghan yesterday

Screenwriter Matheos Coelho posted a photo he took with Meghan yesterday

Screenwriter Matheos Coelho posted a photo he took with Meghan yesterday

Ms Robinson said in another Instagram post that Harry and Meghan were 'supportive' of the discussion

Ms Robinson said in another Instagram post that Harry and Meghan were 'supportive' of the discussion

Ms Robinson said in another Instagram post that Harry and Meghan were ‘supportive’ of the discussion

Harry's father King Charles III at Buckingham Palace yesterday where he met Singapore's High Commissioner to the UK, Ng Teck Hean, who was joined by his wife, Mok Ling Ling

Harry's father King Charles III at Buckingham Palace yesterday where he met Singapore's High Commissioner to the UK, Ng Teck Hean, who was joined by his wife, Mok Ling Ling

Harry’s father King Charles III at Buckingham Palace yesterday where he met Singapore’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ng Teck Hean, who was joined by his wife, Mok Ling Ling

Last week Meghan unveiled a new cooking and lifestyle business called American Riviera Orchard – focusing on home, garden, food and lifestyle items.

The launch came on the same day Harry appeared via video link at the Diana Legacy Award event at the Science Museum in London.

And earlier this week, former US President Donald Trump suggested Harry could be deported from America if he lied about his drug use on a visa application.

The republican front-runner told Nigel Farage that “appropriate action” would be taken if the Duke hid his past drug use on his immigration papers.

Also this week, Harry and Meghan were ‘downgraded’ on the official Buckingham Palace website.

Despite stepping down as senior royals in January 2020, full and separate profiles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remained with the rest of the royal family until yesterday morning.

Harry's sister-in-law Kate was last seen with her family in Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023

Harry's sister-in-law Kate was last seen with her family in Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023

Harry’s sister-in-law Kate was last seen with her family in Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023

On Monday, those photos and bios briefly disappeared. Within half an hour they were replaced with a significantly smaller, shared biography at the very bottom of the page – under the Duke of York.

The Sussexes’ post now reads that they have stepped back as working royals with just a few short paragraphs about each of them.

As for the Kinsey exhibit, it aims to ‘celebrate the achievements and contributions of black Americans from before the formation of the United States to the present.’

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey are behind the collection, having spent five decades amassing one of the world’s largest private collections of black art and artifacts.

The items include a typewritten letter from civil rights activist Malcolm X to author Alex Haley from 1963 and a handwritten bill of sale for an enslaved black man from 1832.

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