LONDON.- 2024 has been a difficult year for the monarchy British, with the announcement of the cancers suffered by the king Charles III and the princess of Wales, Kate Middletonwife of his eldest son William.
January 17: announcement of the hospitalization of Kate Middleton and a few hours later Charles III
Kensington Palace, which handles communications for the princes of Wales, announced that Kate, 42, was hospitalized in London for planned abdominal surgery.
The palace added that the operation was a success, but that the princess was unlikely to return to official duties until Easter at the end of March.
Given the questions raised by public opinion, the palace transmitted the information to the press that it was not cancer.
A few hours later, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III, who is 75 years old and acceded to the throne in September 2022, had to be hospitalized due to benign prostate hypertrophy.
This communication about the king’s health, unusual on the part of the monarchy, was intended to warn the population about this pathology, very common among men of a certain age and generally not serious.
January 21: announcement that Sarah Ferguson has melanoma
Sarah Ferguson, 64, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, the king’s brother, announced that she was suffering from malignant melanoma, a skin cancer.
Six months earlier, in June 2023, she had already announced that she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer.
January 26: the king enters the hospital
Charles III entered the prestigious London Clinic, where Kate was also present. The monarch greeted the crowd as he left the clinic on January 29.
Kensington Palace also announced on January 29 that Kate had been discharged from the London Clinic.
February 5: announcement of Charles III’s cancer
Buckingham Palace announced that the king had been diagnosed with cancer during his prostate operation and had begun treatment.
The statement did not specify the nature of the cancer. The king began treatment of him. Charles III then canceled all public commitments, but continued to perform some official functions, such as his weekly meeting with the prime minister.
The mysterious absence of the Princess of Wales
In the age of social media, the silence about the reasons for Kate’s operation and her long absence generated a mountain of speculation.
On February 27, William canceled his presence at a ceremony in memory of his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, at Windsor Castle at the last minute for personal reasons, fueling rumors about his wife’s health.
On March 10, to mark Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom, Kensington Palace published an official photograph of Kate smiling, surrounded by her three children, the first since her operation in mid-January.
But Kate had to admit that the photo was retouched and apologize, which generated more speculation.
March 22: Kate announces she has cancer
In a video, the princess announced that she has cancer, without specifying its nature, and that she began chemotherapy.
“The last few months have been incredibly difficult for my entire family,” she said, visibly tired.
April 26: announcement of the king’s return to public life
The palace announced that the king would resume his public activities with a visit to a cancer center. According to a spokesman, doctors were encouraged by the progress in his treatment.
Since then, Carlos III continued to appear in public, participating in the traditional garden party in spring or in the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.
June 14: Kate announces her first official appearance in six months
Kate announced through a message on social networks that her treatment is making good progress and that she will attend the traditional parade for the king’s birthday in London over the weekend, her first official public appearance since December.
“My treatment continues and will do so for a few more months,” he added.
Kate is expected to join the royal family for the traditional greeting on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
The king indicated that he will go by carriage and not on horseback, like last year, due to the cancer treatment he is carrying out.
FUENTE: AFP
