Prince William was asked whether Princess Kate is "getting any better" following her cancer diagnosis during an appearance in England on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Audio from footage of the royal's exchange with a military veteran at the event is difficult to make out due to background noise but when asked "I was going to ask you about your wife getting any better?" the prince appeared to say: "Yeah, so she's getting better. She'd loved to have been here today."
One user on X, formerly Twitter, also suggested William may have said: "Yes, she's doing really well."
Newsweek approached Kensington Palace via email for comment. So far, Newsweek has been unable to confirm the statement.
— Imperial Material ♚ (@royalistinusa) June 5, 2024‘She would’ve loved to be here today’
The Prince of Wales speaking when asked about The Princess of Wales 🤍 pic.twitter.com/JP3J4Jfj5I
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The Context
Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March, revealing that she had begun a course of "preventative chemotherapy."
The princess has been off work for the whole of 2024 as a result of her health issues, with her last public appearance coming on Christmas Day.
William's words came as he joined Queen Camilla and King Charles III at Britain's D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.
What We Know
Kate's cancer announcement was made on March 22 in a video statement in which she said that following a successful abdominal surgery in January, "tests after the operation found cancer had been present."
The royal asked for time, space and privacy while she began her course of preventative chemotherapy treatment, and added that while she was looking forward to returning to work she needed to "focus on making a full recovery."
Kensington Palace has declined to provide a "running commentary" on the royal's health and so far, Prince William has reassured members of the public about his wife's condition while at events and engagements.
In May, during a visit to the Isles of Scilly, the prince said Kate was "doing well."
Later that month, Kensington Palace provided some insight into when Kate might return to her royal duties. A spokesperson for the royal said, per the BBC: "The princess is not expected to return to work until it's cleared by her medical team."
Kate did not accompany her husband to the D-Day commemoration in Portsmouth on Wednesday.
King Charles gave a speech during the ceremony in which he said: "Eighty years ago today Field Marshal Montgomery—Commander in Chief of the Allied Ground Forces—wrote in his message to all soldiers on the eve of D-Day: 'To us is given the honour of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history; and, in the better days that lie ahead, men will speak with pride of our doings.'
"Today we come together to honour those nearly one hundred and sixty thousand British, Commonwealth and Allied troops who, on 5th June 1944, assembled here and along these shores to embark on the mission which would strike that blow for freedom and be recorded as the greatest amphibious operation in history.
"Those who gathered here in Portsmouth would never forget the sight. It was by far the largest military fleet the world has ever known. Yet all knew that both victory and failure were possible, and none could know their fate."
Views
Kate has received a wave of public support since stepping out of the public eye in January owing to health concerns.
On Wednesday, Sarah Ferguson, the duch*ess of York, added her voice to those who have praised the princess for how she has handled her private illness in a public way.
"I thought Princess Catherine was so wonderful with the video and so brave and courageous and such a wonderful mother and such an inspiration to us all and the nation," she said.
What's Next
Prince William will continue to undertake public appearances solo while Princess Kate focuses on her health.
On Thursday, Prince William is to attend the major international ceremony at Omaha Beach in France, alongside 25 heads of state from around the world.
Charles and Camilla are to attend the Royal British Legion ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.
No official timeline, or update, has been given about the royal's health or recovery. The palace has said that the princess is not expected to return to work until it's cleared by her doctors.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Update 06/05/24, 10:50 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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