The Prince and Princess of Wales will take a four-week break away from Windsor with their children following intense speculation around the Princess of Wales's health and whereabouts. Kate, 42, revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video message on Friday.
The announcement came after weeks of mounting pressure and conspiracy theories on social media. Paddy Harverson, who was previously the official spokesman of Kate and the Prince of Wales, was asked on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme where the responsibility for the pressure lay: social media or mainstream media. "Well, it feeds off itself," he said. "It's a sort of permanent doom loop. And it's the worst I've ever seen."
However, he said the royal family still would have done the announcement in the same way, even without the pressure. "I'm absolutely convinced that if we hadn't had all the madness and social media, if we hadn't had the Mother's Day photo mistake, they would have still done it like this," he said of Kate's video statement on Friday. "They would have still waited till this last Friday when the schools are breaking up to make the announcement."
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Rumours online about the princess intensified after William missed, at very short notice, the memorial service of his godfather the late King Constantine of Greece on February 27. It is now understood the prince's decision not to attend was related to his wife's condition, but it is not known when the princess was told about the positive test for cancer.
Even more speculation was sparked after mum-of-three Kate admitted to "editing" her official Mother's Day photograph, which showed her with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, who will turn 6 in April. A number of photo agencies issued a kill notice following concerns the image had been 'manipulated.'
Since Kate confirmed her cancer diagnosis, there has been a global outpouring of support, including from the King, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, political figures and members of the public. On Sunday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt praised the "incredible stoicism" of Kate and the King - whose own cancer diagnosis was revealed in February.
He also told Laura Kuenssberg: "My thoughts are also with the Princess of Wales and the King, and how much I think we all admire their incredible stoicism."
It is not known how long Kate will be receiving treatment but it is understood she may be keen to attend events as and when she feels able to, in line with medical advice, although this will not indicate a return to full-time duties. William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family, and maintaining his official duties as he has done since her operation.
The prince is due to return to public duties after his children return to school following the Easter break. He and his wife will not attend the royal family's traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel, which the King is hoping to go to with the Queen if his health allows.
It is not likely to be a large family gathering or service, according to The Telegraph, as Charles has paused public-facing royal duties. Charles has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February after he was treated for an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where Kate had abdominal surgery.
It is understood the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children will spend their four-week Easter school break at Anmer Hall, their home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, before William resumes public duties from mid-April. An aide said: "The family just want to go away for Easter, spend time together, the five of them, close off from the world and move on." A royal source added: "William is extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week, but since her surgery in January."
"He has always done all he can to protect his family and now more than ever he's focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared."
Kate's mother Carole, 69, and father Michael, 74, are understood to have been on hand to care for Kate since she went into hospital at the turn of the year. Carole is described as being "indispensable" and is playing a "crucial" role in caring for her grandchildren.
It is understood she will continue to provide hands-on support to Kate and William. She was spotted driving Kate on the school run earlier this month.
