Seeing Kate Middleton Just Hours Before ‘Shock’ Cancer Announcement Left King Charles ‘Emotional’

Apr 09, 2024

King Charles III ascended the throne in the United Kingdom after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. He became king in 2022, following a long wait as the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. 

Charles has experienced fluctuations in popularity, with some periods marked by high levels of public support and others by increased scrutiny or criticism. However, a year into ascending the throne, Charles has proven to be surprisingly popular, with 62% of the UK public giving him their positive seal of approval.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, commonly known as Kate Middleton, married Charles’ first-born son, Prince William, in 2011. Celebrated for her grace, style, and charitable work, Kate has been seen as a supportive figure within the royal family. Her contributions to various causes align well with the monarchy's charitable efforts. As the future queen consort, Kate also plays an important role in representing the monarchy and supporting Charles in his duties as king.

Thus, with Charles and Kate being two of the most popular members of the royal family, news of their health issues in early 2024 led to an outpouring of well wishes and support from their supporters worldwide. On Jan. 17, 2024, Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles III would undergo hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate and that later tests identified a form of cancer for which the monarch would begin treatment. Afterward, Kensington Palace disclosed that Kate had undergone abdominal surgery at the London Clinic and would not return to any public-facing duties for months.

While Charles was lauded for being more transparent about his diagnosis, Kate’s initial silence over her condition led to increasingly bizarre theories and wild rumors. Finally, on March 23, 2024, Kate dropped the bombshell that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

As Charles and Kate took time off from their royal duties, other members of the family stepped up in their absence, particularly their respective spouses, Queen Camilla and Prince William. As they both faced their health struggles simultaneously, they’ve also been a source of comfort for one another. In the same hospital at the same time, Charles reportedly visited Kate by her bedside. The day before Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, she and Charles shared a private lunch together. After sharing the news with the world, a Buckingham Palace representative said the king was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did” and that he “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.” 

Charles’ wording piqued the interest of former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who said: 

“I was struck by the fact that he didn’t say close, but closest. … There’s no doubt that cancer has cemented an already strong relationship. It’s very touching to think of Charles toddling down the corridor to see Kate when they were both in hospital. And it is understood that the King was left very emotional after their one-on-one lunch at Windsor Castle the day after she recorded her broadcast.”

Bond added there were “so very few people in whom a senior royal can confide, certain that everything they say will be secure. I’m sure that both Charles and Kate have found it comforting to be able to discuss their emotions as well as the chemotherapy treatment and how it has made them feel.”

Bond said Kate has “forged a genuinely affectionate relationship with Charles. And he makes no secret of the fact that he is enormously proud of her,” and “after all, remember how Diana said Charles had always wanted a daughter.”

Bond said Kate and Charles also shared an unwavering commitment to family.

“It must be particularly tough for the children to know that both their grandfather and their mother are ill. But I’m sure Charles, like Kate, tries to shield them from that and carries on being a fun grandpa as much as he can in their tight knit little group.”

Other royal watchers also believe the pair shared a strong bond. Author Robert Hardman said: 

“It's very clear that (Charles is) extremely concerned about her. I think he wants to make sure as much as he can that if there's anything he can do, he will do, because for a very fit and healthy young mother, this is a different order of magnitude to someone having to deal with this in their 70s.”

He added Charles was likely to be a “source of comfort for her in the same way she's probably been a source of comfort for him," and that it “cannot but have brought them even closer together.” He added the manner in which Charles has supported Kate was “a reminder that the Windsors are mortals like the rest of us.” 

Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter remarked that Charles and Kate would likely “have found tremendous comfort in each other, going through something so similar.” 

“I think (Kate has) just managed to bring a real sense of warmth and camaraderie and family to the Royal Family,” Arbiter added. 

A royal source also told People that as “two patients going through a common health experience,” they “are bound to have a close connection.” 

“I imagine there was some comfort (for Kate) in seeing… that it was possible to balance some private information without there being an imperative to share all,” the source added.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith agreed, adding Kate’s health woes have brought out the protective side of not only her husband but also her father-in-law.

“(Charles) has always had a very good bond with her. I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had,” Smith explained. “He shares with William an impulse to protect her. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”

Meanwhile, royal watchers also took note of the fact that Charles flew from London to be with Kate at Windsor Castle just hours before she filmed her cancer announcement. They said the highly charged lunch prior to Kate’s announcement proved how incredibly supportive Charles is of his daughter-in-law. A source told The Sun Kate was also keen to see how her 75-year-old father-in-law was coping with his health struggles. The source claimed Kate described her diagnosis to Charles as a “huge shock” but that she was “going to be OK.” 

“It is highly unusual for just the two of them to sit down together like this. The King had already been made aware that the woman he calls ‘my beloved daughter-in-law’ had cancer,” the insider explained, adding they “would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis.” 

The insider said the lunch was filled with emotion and affected all parties deeply.

“The King left his lunch feeling very emotional. They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”

What are your thoughts about the way Charles has offered Kate his love and support during this challenging time? Let us know and be sure to pass this along to friends and family.