PRINCESS Kate decided to make her emotional statement two weeks ago – but only released it on Friday to protect her children.

The Princess of Wales, 42, revealed her health battle to the world in a touching video in which she vowed she was “going to be OK”.

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Princess Kate wrote her entire video message speech by herselfCredit: BBC

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Kate discussed what she was going to say with King Charles during a heart-to-heartCredit: AFP

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The pair met for lunch at Windsor CastleCredit: Alamy

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Wills was carrying out royal duties on the day Kate filmed her video
It is understood Kate “wrote every word” herself in the highly personal address.

Sun editor Victoria Newton said the “key thing” for Kate was making the news was shared at the right time for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The children had already broken up from school and were with their parents for Easter when video was released at 6pm on Friday.

Victoria told BBC1’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “It was actually, I understand, that the Princess made the decision two weeks ago that she was going to do this public statement.

“The key thing for her as a mother, the priority was protecting those three children.

“She didn’t want them going to school, being asked even more than they already were.

King ‘frustrated’ at recovery taking ‘longer than he would want it to’

The King’s nephew Peter Phillips has said Charles is “frustrated” that his recovery is taking longer than “he would want it to”.

The son of the Princess Royal said the King was “in good spirits”, but was “pushing” his staff to be able to return to his duties after beginning treatment for cancer last month.

In a televised interview, Mr Phillips told Sky News Australia: “I think ultimately he’s hugely frustrated.

“He’s frustrated that he can’t get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do.

“But he is very pragmatic, he understands that there’s a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself.

“But at the same time he is always pushing his staff and everybody – his doctors and nurses – to be able to say ‘actually can I do this, can I do that?'”

Charles has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February after he was treated for an enlarged prostate and on Friday the Princess of Wales revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.

Mr Phillips added: “I think the overriding message would be that he’s obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality and is probably frustrated that recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to.”

The son of Anne, 73, and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, said during the interview on Australian television that his mother “leaves others to worry about column inches”.

Mr Phillips said: “I think in the past she has not always been the media’s favourite so to speak. But she’s never really let that bother her.

“She just keeps her head down the whole time and keeps working away and leaves others to worry about column inches.”

The eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II added that it was “pretty remarkable” that his mother was still carrying out overseas trips in her 70s.

Mr Phillips said the “work ethic” of his parents had been hugely influential for him and his sister Zara Tindall.

He added: “Both of them are incredibly hard working and both in their 70s they’re still working a lot harder than either of them probably expected.

“But then as my mother always says – from that perspective, they had pretty good role models from my grandparents who were still working in their 90s.

“So everyone has a huge amount to live up to and ultimately they all live by example.”

He added that Anne “really valued” her home time to be able “to relax and just get to some form of normality”.

Mr Phillips was on a visit to Australia to represent the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.

He said the royal family had a “huge affinity” with Australia, adding “all of us have friends over here”.

“They were already being affected at school, so it was always her plan that she would wait until the last day of term.

“Obviously they’ve endured an incredible amount of social media speculation which has been really hard for them to handle, but the priority for her was always those children.”

In the moving video, Kate she said the discovery was a “huge shock” but vowed she was “going to be OK” as she underwent rounds of preventative chemotherapy.

Kate had decided to release the video two weeks ago and wrote every word of the statement herself, it is understood.

On Thursday, Kate met the King, 75, for a heart-to-heart at Windsor Caslte, where it is understood she told him about her speech.

Charles has rallied around his “beloved” daughter-in-law during her ordeal as someone who can understand what she’s going through.

A close friend to the Princess has since told The Times Kate pulled the moving words together herself.

They said: “It allowed her to speak directly to the public who, overwhelmingly, have always been with her and her family and who don’t buy into the noise and gossip.

“It was all her, she wrote every word of it, it came together very quickly.”

On Wednesday, when the video was filmed Wills was attending a royal engagement.

He made a private visit to the Welsh Guards at the Combermere Barracks near Windsor.

Kate Middleton has been terribly bullied but that wasn’t why she revealed she has cancer
 

INGRID SEWARD: Prince William is a pillar of strength for Kate

STEADFAST when his family needed him, William has proved himself as a man and future monarch of strength and compassion.

While he might not have been present during Kate’s courageous video address on Friday — make no mistake, he has been by her side every step of the way.

William has stepped up with school run duties and provided a “great source of comfort and reassurance” to his wife.

But he has also been a comforting and reassuring presence for the public.

From leading members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day Service to enjoying cheerful banter with youngsters on a youth centre visit, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Just this week he visited Sheffield to highlight his Homewards project to end homelessness in the UK.

Even then there were few chinks in his facade — but Kate was clearly on his mind.

“She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he smiled, when the discussion turned to the challenges of young families.

But ultimately he is only human.

To have your father and your wife diagnosed with cancer within such quick succession is heart-shattering.

It’s a remarkable insight into the character of this young man that he has been so incredibly brave.

Theirs is a very private turmoil which has been brought into the public arena by nature of their roles as future King and Queen.

William must feel the weight of enormous responsibility, both personally and for the monarchy, of which he is now the public face.

But he knows his most important role is that of dad and husband.

He will make that his priority.

This is a distinct difference from the ways of the past, where your royal role came before the role of spouse and parent.

Think back to when the Queen was young.

WILLS’ PRIORITY

It was a man’s world then — and she was forced to abandon her children in a way that William is determined not to.

William and Kate waited until the school term was over and their children were home before making their public announcement.

They needed to be prepared.

In this, they will have had the wholehearted support of Charles — who knows what it feels like to be brought up by nannies.

William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong.

In 1991, he was accidentally hit over the head with a golf club when he was at school and Diana was having lunch in her favourite restaurant San Lorenzo.

The call came through that William had been bashed on the head and they thought he might die so it was very serious.

Both Charles and Diana rushed down to Ludgrove.

William was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Diana went with him.

But ever a man of duty, Charles prioritised his engagements.

William is determined to do things differently.

The day after, the King travelled to visit Kate who was keen to speak to him about his struggle and find out how he was coping.

A source said of the Windsor Castle get-together: “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.

“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.

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Kate released the video and the time she thought was right for George, Charlotte and Louis

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Kate’s statement in full

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The Firm has rallied around Kate following her diagnosis

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Kate, pictured here in 2014, wanted to address the nation and the world in her own wordsCredit: getty
“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.”

It is understood Charles had been made aware of Kate’s cancer struggle before he travelled from London for the lunch.

Doting husband Prince William has been by her side throughout – taking a step back from his royal duties and pulling out of engagements last minute.

Queen Camilla is also said to be a pillar of support and in regular contact with Kate.

Camilla has been Charles’ “rock” following his diagnosis and wants to be as supportive for Kate.

The Queen has continued to carry out all of her royal duties and attended many events by herself after urging Charles to slow down.

Well-wishers on Saturday began leaving flowers at Windsor Castle for Kate.

She was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16 but it was not known then there was any cancer.

She remained in hospital for 13 nights. Kensington Palace urged the world not to speculate and said she would be off work until April.

It has now emerged although the operation was “non-cancerous” subsequent tests found cancer was present.

Timeline of Kate’s health battle & recovery

JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery

JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery

JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside

JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week

JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital

FEBRUARY 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health

MARCH 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate

Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo

Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William

Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor

Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport

Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior

MARCH 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis

In her own words, Kate revealed she took time to recover from the operation before starting a round of preventative chemotherapy.

The cancer treatment began at the end of February and was the reason William pulled out of a thanksgiving service around that time, citing a “personal matter”.

Kate’s disappearance from public view sparked vile and sickening abuse online and provoked wild and unfounded conspiracy theories.

The Sun exclusively revealed on Monday the Prince and Princess of Wales had been shopping at Windsor Farm Shop last weekend and watched their children play sport.

Our video footage published 24 hours later, and shared around the world, showed Kate looking “relaxed and happy”.

Kate then filmed her personal message sitting on a bench in gardens at Windsor on Wednesday.

The video was released on Friday evening with Kate telling the world she was “getting stronger every day”, and had told her children “I will get better”.

After Charles announced on February 5 that he had cancer, Kensington Palace revealed Kate and Wills were in regular contact with the King.

Speaking to PM Rishi Sunak when they met last month, Charles said: “I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards, it’s reduced me to tears most of the time.”

The King has spent most of his weekdays at Windsor Castle but has regularly gone to London to carry out official royal duties at Buckingham Palace.

KING’S REST

He left Windsor Castle at 11am on Friday to rest for the weekend at his Highgrove House residence in Gloucestershire.

The Queen has been filling in at major engagements including a visit to Northern Ireland last week.

While there she told well-wishers her husband is “doing very well” and “very disappointed he couldn’t come”, for what was originally intended to be a joint visit.

Meanwhile Kate has been recuperating at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, with William, 41, and their children.

They will not attend the family Easter Sunday service which is expected to be held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

It is understood the King is hoping to lead the family to the ceremony at Easter.

The Queen, 76, is also hoping to join her husband for the service which is expected to be a scaled-down affair with only a handful of royals attending.

Harry and Meghan’s ‘cheerleader’ targets Kate Middleton moments after cancer diagnosis

BY Scarlet Howes and Thomas Godfrey

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix “cheerleader” targeted Kate Middleton moments after her cancer diagnosis shocked the world.

Christopher Bouzy, who had a starring role in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix show, trolled Kate on X/Twitter 31 minutes after her video was released.

The tech mogul, 48, said Kate’s illness was stage-managed akin to “North Korean propaganda”.

Bouzy, who has been peddling a conspiracy that William and Kate are breaking up, later joined an online meeting of 300 Harry and Meghan supporters.

One participant even questioned whether the Princess’s cancer diagnosis was legitimate.

Another claimed the diagnosis gave Kate a “free pass” from answering questions about her photoshop edits to a Mother’s Day image.

Another pal of the Sussexes, Omid Scobie, deleted a tasteless post on Friday showing an alarm clock set for 6pm — the time Kate made her cancer statement.

It sparked huge speculation as to what was to be announced.

The Endgame author, 42, later deleted the post after users criticised him.

He said: “When there was word circulating that an announcement was coming from the Palace at 6pm I tweeted an image of the time for followers to keep an eye out.

“When I learned how serious the news ended up being I removed the tweet to stop any speculation.”

Meanwhile, it was reported in the New York Post that Harry and Meghan made “private contact” with William and Kate after being “blindsided” by the news.

It is claimed that Harry and Meghan only learned about Kate’s cancer diagnosis from her video statement — the same time as the rest of the world.

A source said: “They had no idea.This goes to show the irreparable damage they have caused.

“The trust has been broken and the Royal Family is OK distancing themselves from them.”

She stood in for Charles and William at a service of thanksgiving for the life of King Constantine II of Greece at the chapel in February.

Kate and William have now pleaded for privacy as they spend time together during their children’s school holidays.

Kate’s statement on Friday was issued to coincide with all three children finishing school term.

They are due back at Lambrook School, Berkshire, on April 17 and William will not return to work until then.

After Kate’s cancer statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty is so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.

“Following their time in hospital together, His Majesty has remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.

“Both Their Majesties will ­continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time.”

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Harry and Meghan sent their well wishes to the Princess

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Kate’s brother James Middleton paid tribute to his sister on Friday