The Princess of Wales has been out and about more with her family in recent weeks, the Mail understands, as palace officials said they have been inundated with ‘tens of thousands’ of get-well-soon cards after her cancer diagnosis was revealed.
While Kate venturing out with family will be taken as a positive sign by many, Kensington Palace has stressed that she still needs time and space to recover.
The palace’s correspondence team is said to have been ‘so touched’ by the love and affection shown to Kate, 42, who recorded an emotional video message in March revealing she had started preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
The princess has withdrawn from public life to concentrate on her recovery, as well as protecting her young family. But the outpouring of support continues.
The volume of correspondence has at times been difficult for the team to cope with, but staff do aim to reply to all the writers.
All letters to members of the Royal Family are dealt with by the Court Post Office. In a normal week the Palace can expect up to 1,000 letters, but what they have experienced since March has significantly surpassed that.
Buckingham Palace has been inundated with ‘tens of thousands’ of get-well-soon cards and gifts for the Princess of Wales
In a normal week the Palace can expect up to 1,000 letters, but what they have experienced since March has significantly surpassed that
In March, Kensington Palace released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery
It comes a week after Kate was revealed as the ‘driving force’ behind a new report calling on businesses to introduce more family-friendly working practices.
Her Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood has unveiled a major new report which argues that investing in early childhood could generate more than £45.5 billion for the national economy each year.
Downing Street, as well as senior ministers in the departments of health and education, have already been briefed about its findings – although palace officials are at pains to point out that it is not a political campaign.
A Kensington Palace spokesman also stressed that the news should not be seen as Kate, 42, returning to work after undergoing major abdominal surgery and revealing she was undergoing ‘preventative chemotherapy’ for cancer.
She has not undertaken public engagements at all this year.
Kate was recently revealed as the ‘driving force’ behind a new report calling on businesses to introduce more family-friendly working practices
Kate with Louis and Charlotte in May 2023 as they helped renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough
But they confirmed that she has been across every aspect of the report from home, despite her illness.
Her spokesman said: ‘The work of The Prince and Princess’ projects is ‘always on’…early childhood is a huge priority for The Princess and so she has been kept fully updated throughout the development of the Taskforce’s work and she has seen the report.’
A senior royal aide added: ‘The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business task force.
‘She has been kept up to date since the inception of the task force and she has read the report and been briefed on it.
‘This is a clear commitment she has made that throughout her life of public service that this will be focus.
‘That will continue when she returns to work. But we have been really clear that she needs the space and the privacy to recover right now. She will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors.’
‘The princess is not expected to return to work until it’s cleared by her medical team,’ the Kensington Palace spokesman said.
Kate’s cancer battle in her own words: The Princess of Wales’ emotional video statement in full
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
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.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.
As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.