ROAD TO RECOVERY
Major decision Prince William has made is ‘tell-tale sign’ Kate Middleton’s recovery is going well, claims royal expert
Royal expert Phil Dampier also revealed who has been Kate's support network during her recovery
SINCE the Princess of Wales announced the "huge shock" of her cancer diagnosis back in March, there has been very little in the form of health updates on her condition.
But according to royal expert Phil Dampier, there are some "tell-tale signs" that Kate Middleton, 42, is recovering well.
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Since the beginning of the year, Prince William has cut back his public engagements in a bid to support his wife and their three young children; Prince George, ten, nine-year-old Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, six.
However, Kensington Palace has recently confirmed the 41-year-old will attend two public engagements which will mean he has to leave Windsor for a night.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, Phil Dampier suggests this is a positive indication that the mum-of-three's recovery is on track.
"Kate has wanted to keep her cancer diagnosis and treatment private and everyone respects that," he says.
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"Hopefully no news is good news and like the King, we all hope she is recovering well."
He claims: "There are some tell-tale signs that she is getting better as Prince William is undertaking more jobs, including going to the Scilly Isles where he will be away for a day or two.
"I don’t think he would be out and about more, unless he was happy she was on the mend."
OVERNIGHT VISIT
During the first part of his visit to Cornwall on Thursday, Prince William will attend the site where the Duchy of Cornwall’s first homeless housing project will be built, in Nansleden, Newquay.
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The royal will then move onto Fistral Beach, where he'll meet organisations who take care of the project.
Then, on Friday, the dad-of-three will make his first official visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming Duke of Cornwall in September 2022.
Prince William returns to public engagements for the first time since the Princess of Wales revealed she was being treated for cancer
During his time there, he will arrive at St Mary's Harbour and will meet representatives from local businesses, before paying a visit to St. Mary's Medical Centre.
Following the announcement, Prince William will reportedly be attending more public engagements before his children break up for summer in July and August.
According to The Times, it's understood that Prince William plans to "increase his diary of public engagements over the next two months".
Kate Middleton, who had been recovering from major abdominal surgery in January 2024, first announced her health battle in a touching video on March 22.
Prince William is a pillar of strength for Kate
Expert analysis by author and royal expert, Ingrid Seward:
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 in 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 the 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.
William's priority is his family
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
At the time, she revealed her "huge shock" after post-operation tests revealed she had the disease.
Addressing the nation, she commented: "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."
Royal expert Phil Dampier adds that getting cancer in her early forties was a "tremendous shock," but says the princess will be getting the "best treatment and hopefully make a full recovery".
He adds: "When Kate is back in action the interest in her will be off the scale and she will have to pace herself.
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"She will certainly be more popular than ever and I’m sure the public will rally around her.
"Her parents Carole and Michael, as well as her sister Pippa and brother James, have been there for her and that support network is crucial as well."
Timeline of Royal health woes
HERE is a date-by-date rundown of the health worries to have struck the royals this year
JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery.
JAN 17: It is announced that the King is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside.
JAN 19: The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen.
JAN 21: It is announced Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a skin cancer.
JAN 23: Kate’s hospital stay passes one week. JAN 26: The King is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment.
JAN 29: The King is discharged from hospital. Kate leaves the same day.
JAN 31: Queen Camilla announces that the King is “getting on, doing his best”.
FEBRUARY 5: Buckingham Palace announces the King has cancer, but not of the prostate, and will not carry out public-facing duties.
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