Canadians are wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after she announced she has cancer.
“My thoughts are with the Princess of Wales, her children, and the entire Royal Family following the news of her cancer so courageously shared,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on social media.
“On behalf of Canadians, I'm sending my support as she undergoes treatment. We're all wishing her a swift recovery.”
Kate said Friday in a video that she has been diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. She asked for “time, space and privacy.”
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted on social media that he joins all Canadians in wishing her a “speedy recovery, and her family support in a difficult time.”
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon wished Kate courage and strength.
“My thoughts are with her and her family,” Simon said on social media.
The revelation came after weeks of speculation about the royal. The palace announced in January that Kate had undergone abdominal surgery and would be out of sight for several months.
Kate said in the video that tests following the operation found cancer.
“This, of course, came as a huge shock. And William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said.
Prince William and Kate have a significant connection with Canada, first touring the country a few months after they were married in 2011. The trip was celebrated as a success with the couple taking part in Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill, making lobster souffle in Montreal, racing dragon boats in Prince Edward Island and canoeing in the Northwest Territories.
They also donned white cowboy hats as they joined then-prime minister Stephen Harper at the Calgary Stampede.
During that trip, a photo of Kate hugging a six-year-old girl with cancer on the tarmac of the Calgary airport captured hearts around the world. Diamond Marshall had written Kate a note from the hospital bed where she watched the royal wedding earlier that year.
Diamond's family said she fulfilled her dream of meeting a real princess.
When the girl died in 2014, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said William and Kate were saddened by the loss.
The couple returned to Canada in 2016 with the oldest of their three children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The eight-day tour saw the family visit British Columbia and Yukon, where they prioritized stops to bring attention to social and mental-health programs.
In Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, they participated in First Nations ceremonies in Bella Bella and Haida Gwaii, B.C., and met residents in the small northern community of Carcross, Yukon.
“We feel very lucky to have been able to introduce George and Charlotte to Canada. This country will play a big part in the lives of our children and we have created such happy memories for our family during this visit,” William said in a statement following the visit.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2024.
