"Anchor" for the children

Prince William will “be the anchor for the children”

After many - sometimes absurd - rumors, Princess Kate (42) has now openly admitted in a video message: "I have cancer!" However, she also made it clear that she only found out after her abdominal operation. A palace insider has now revealed that her husband Prince William (41) will now be "the anchor" for their three children.

After weeks of speculation about her state of health, Princess Kate addressed the public in a video message on Friday evening. She underwent abdominal surgery in mid-January and has not appeared in public since.

Tests after the operation revealed that she had cancer, said the 42-year-old. On the advice of her medical team, she is receiving chemotherapy as a precaution.

William is an "important support" for Kate
In her video, which she recorded sitting on a bench in a garden, Kate said she had needed time. Time to recover from the operation so she could start her treatment. But above all, time to explain it to her three children, Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8) and Prince Louis (5).

And to reassure them that she will be fine. Now could also have been a good time, as the children have no school for the time being due to Easter. Kate asked for privacy for her family. And described her husband, heir to the throne Prince William, as an "important support".

William will be the "anchor" for the children
William will now be an "anchor" for the children, according to Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth. "They are protective of their children. Their welfare is the most important thing to them," Anderson said in an interview with People magazine. Kate's announcement on Friday had "moved everyone. Three million people in the UK are living with cancer and this will have touched them deeply," Anderson said.

William "is being torn apart"
Above all, however, the pressure is likely to be on Prince William at the moment. In view of the royal health crisis surrounding both his father King Charles and his wife Kate, he is facing immense challenges in meeting the demands of his family and those of his people.

"This time must be incredibly stressful for him," royal expert Joe Little told Stern. "He's being torn between roles: as husband, father, prince and heir to the throne." Immediately after Kate's abdominal operation in January, William took time out to be fully present for his family.

"How can you not be compassionate?"
Regarding the conspiracy theories that circulated on the internet during the princess's absence, Ailsa Anderson said: "The people who were malicious on social media should think about what they posted." Empathy is particularly important.

"Nobody knows what's going on in someone else's private life. How can you not be empathetic?" said Anderson. Kate is "not only a senior member of the royal family, but also a mother of young children - she's so young. I'm sure the whole world will be in her thoughts".