YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Her message of hope as she reveals health ordeal

- RUSSELL MYERS

THE Princess of Wales delivered a message of hope to the nation yesterday as she bravely revealed she is having cancer treatment.

In an emotional televised statement confirming her diagnosis to the world, the future queen said it had been "an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family".

And to those also facing their own battle, she said: "Please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."

Kate, 42, praised her husband Prince William, 41, for his love and support. She said they had both told their children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight and Prince Louis, five, of her illness and she had assured them: "I am going to be OK."

The Princess was admitted to hospital on January 16 for major abdominal surgery, which was successful, and started a course of chemotherapy last month. At the 20 time of her operation it was thought that the condition was noncancerous, as no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer.

However, post-operative tests confirmed cancer had been present.

Sitting on a bench at Windsor before a backdrop of daffodils, mumof-three Kate described her plight as "a huge shock".

It has not been revealed what type of cancer she had.

Royal sources confirmed the King and Queen were told of her condition and of her statement beforehand.

The King is facing his own health issues after Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer.