Princess Kate has been praised by the late Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary for being “perfect” in her “brave, powerful and dignified” message as she revealed her cancer diagnosis.
Simon Lewis praised the Princess of Wales for being “hugely authentic” in the video she recorded revealing the shocking news about her health, and suggested “a lot of work went into what I wanted to say”.
Kate spoke about receiving treatment for cancer in footage filmed last Wednesday in Windsor and posted online on Friday night.
Messages of goodwill for the princess have poured in from around the world, from political leaders, celebrities and members of the public.
Prince Harry and Meghan also reached out to their brother William and Kate after finding out the princess was receiving cancer treatment.
Kate revealed in a video message on Friday night that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
The Queen’s former communications secretary, Simon Lewis, praised the Princess of Wales
Kate is now on what has been described as a “road to recovery” after beginning chemotherapy treatment at the end of February.
A friend said she wrote her cancer battle message “alone, very quickly.”
And Lewis, who handled press for William’s grandmother, Elizabeth II, in 1988 and later was Downing Street communications director for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown, welcomed the way she broke the news of your diagnosis.
He told Times Radio: “I think it’s unprecedented – I can’t think of another occasion where a member of the royal family has spoken about their health on camera.”
‘So, yes, she has broken new ground and it seemed to me like she was perfect, the princess.
“There must have been a lot of preparation for what she wanted to say, which I think was enormously authentic, which is the critical thing about communication like this: people just have to believe it.”
“The Princess of Wales is probably one of the most famous people in the world and the pressure on the princess at the time and her advisers to get it right was enormous, and they did.”
‘As I have been speaking today, the enormous amount of support and sympathy for the princess is simply palpable and I am sure the statement has been an important part of that.
“There is obviously huge support for her, but I think this will make a real difference to the way people can view this crucial point about privacy, the privacy of everyone, including members of the royal family.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales, pictured here at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff last October, thanked the public for their support following the news of his cancer treatment.
Kate and her family attended church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Christmas Day last year.
She told in Friday’s video message that she was now on a ‘path of recovery.’
The cancer diagnosis has been revealed as the reason William pulled out of a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece on February 27.
Kate spent a fortnight at the London Clinic after being admitted on January 16 for abdominal surgery.
King Charles and Queen Camilla visited their ward on January 26 before Charles himself underwent surgery for benign prostate cancer and was later diagnosed with cancer, for which he has been receiving treatment ever since.
In a statement issued on behalf of the King on Friday evening, Buckingham Palace said: “Her Majesty is “very proud of Catherine for her bravery in speaking out as she did.”
‘Following their stay together in hospital, HM “has remained in close contact with his beloved daughter-in-law over the past few weeks.”
‘Both Their Majesties “will continue to offer their love and support to the entire family at this difficult time.”‘
His words came after Kate posted a video message recorded on Wednesday in Windsor, saying: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous.”
‘The surgery was a success. However, tests after the operation found that there was cancer.
Simon Lewis described her words as “extraordinarily brave, dignified and powerful.”
King Charles, pictured greeting Kate during an event at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021, said on Friday he was “very proud” of his “beloved” daughter-in-law.
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, pictured visiting Factory Works in Birmingham in October last year, spent a fortnight at the London Clinic after being admitted in January.
‘Therefore, my medical team recommended that I undergo preventive chemotherapy treatment and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
“This, of course, came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing our best to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.”
Kate has rarely been seen in public since attending church at Sandringham in Norfolk on Christmas Day last year, although a member of the public filmed her and William after visiting a farm shop earlier this month.
The couple was also photographed being driven from Windsor on March 11 before the prince attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in central London and Kate attended a private appointment.
A photo of Kate smiling with her three children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five – was shared online on Mother’s Day, March 10.
The princess followed up with an apology the next day, admitting she had edited the image using Photoshop after media organizations including the Press Association and Reuters removed it from their feeds.
The furor came amid much online speculation, including conspiracy theories, surrounding Kate’s health, before she spoke out to clarify her diagnosis.
Lewis said: “Kensington Palace made the decision, particularly after the photograph that emerged and was misinterpreted by some, that they had to do something at the right time.”
Prince William and Kate with King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle in 2012; The prince missed a memorial service for Constantine on February 27 after Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
The Prince of Wales attended the Bafta Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 18
William and Kate were seen leaving Windsor together while being driven around in a car on March 11.
‘But the most important thing is, obviously, that the children had to be informed and that they had to digest the news.
“So here we are, moving fast, and I hope this extraordinarily brave, dignified and powerful message from the princess limits any further speculation until she completes her treatment.”
Of publishing the Mother’s Day photo, she said: “I think it was a good decision at the time, but of course people didn’t realize how much scrutiny there was going to be on that one photo.”
“And what we don’t know, of course, is where they came to communicate this news to their children.”
