Buckingham Palace has been inundated with ‘tens of thousands’ of get well soon cards and gifts for the Princess of Wales, following her brave admission that she is undergoing cancer treatment.
It is understood that the correspondence team at the palace have been ‘so touched’ by the love and affection shown to Kate, 42, who recorded an emotional video message revealing she had embarked on a course of preventative chemotherapy.
The princess has withdrawn from public life to concentrate on her treatment and recovery, as well as protecting her young family.
But the outpouring of support for the princess continues- and palace staff have received thousands and thousands of cards, letters and gifts from members of the public offering their support and good-wishes.
The sheer volume of correspondence has at times been difficult for the team to cope with. But staff do aim to reply to all the writers, eventually.
Although the Prince and Princess of Wales have their own private office at Kensington Palace, all letters to members of the Royal Family are dealt with by the Court Post Office.
In a normal week the palace would expect to receive up to 1,000 letters each week from members of the public with various queries or messages of good wishes for individual royals.
But what they have experienced since the disclosure of the princess’s health issues has significantly superseded that.
Kate was unexpectedly taken into hospital at the start of the year for major abdominal surgery. She remained in The London Clinic for two weeks before going home to recuperate.
In March, following a period of intense global speculation about her health, the princess herself confirmed that while her condition had not been thought to be cancerous at the time, doctors had subsequently discovered evidence of the disease.
She made clear that she needed to focus on both her recovery but also supporting her young children at a difficult time, asking for her family to be given time and space while she completed her treatment.
Although there has been no official update on her health since, The Mail understands that the princess has been seen out and about more with her family in recent weeks, which will be taken as a positive sign by many.
However earlier this week Kensington Palace stressed that she very much still needs time and space to recover.
Speaking at the launch of a landmark report by her early years ‘business taskforce’, a Kensington Palace spokesman stressed that the news should not be viewed as her returning to work.
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.’
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.
