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Gone quiet · last update May 13, 2026 / Wales

Princess Kate's cancer, from her surgery and the edited photo to her remission

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, announced in March 2024 that she had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy, two months after abdominal surgery and weeks of online speculation about her absence, fueled by a family photo that she admitted editing.[1][2] She finished chemotherapy that September and said in January 2025 that she was in remission.[3][4] She has since returned to public duties, and in May 2026 she made her first official trip abroad since her treatment.[5][6]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

She finished chemotherapy that September and said in January 2025 that she was in remission.[3][4] She has since returned to public duties, and in May 2026 she made her first official trip abroad since her treatment.[5][6]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Jan 2024: average weekly share 11% (left 3%, center 6%, right 2%), from 3 of 3 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 23% (left 6%, center 11%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share under 1% (left 0%, center 0%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 1% (left 0%, center 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (19 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
May 11, 20261809 of 1765%
Jun 30, 20250808 of 2174%
Jan 13, 20251420842 of 22818%
Nov 4, 202429415 of 2237%
Sep 23, 20242125 of 2142%
Sep 16, 202436413 of 2096%
Sep 9, 20241420741 of 23018%
Jun 10, 20241630854 of 24722%
Jun 3, 20241427 of 2283%
May 27, 20241506 of 2472%
Apr 1, 20240011 of 264under 1%
Mar 25, 202435210 of 2454%
Mar 18, 2024335430117 of 24648%
Mar 11, 202417331262 of 24326%
Mar 4, 2024820735 of 25414%
Feb 26, 20244419 of 2564%
Jan 29, 2024823738 of 23516%
Jan 22, 20242002 of 2381%
Jan 15, 20241320437 of 22317%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. May 12, 2026 · first reported · Headline from KEYT Santa Barbara

    Princess Kate visits Italy in first official overseas trip since cancer treatment

Background

In January 2024, Kensington Palace said the princess had undergone planned abdominal surgery and would stay at The London Clinic for up to two weeks;[7] she went home to Windsor at the end of the month.[8] Her long absence set off conspiracy theories on social media.[9] In March the palace released a photo of her with her three children, taken by Prince William, and Kate then apologized for "confusion" caused by her editing of it.[10][11][2] A photo agency later said that another of her images had been digitally altered,[12] and Britain's data watchdog looked into reports that a hospital staff member had tried to access her records.[13]

Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)

On March 22, in a video message, Kate said she had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.[1] Support poured in from around the world,[14] including from Prince Harry and Meghan,[15] and some who had joked about her absence apologized.[16][17] Her father-in-law, King Charles III, had also been diagnosed with cancer that year, a period Prince William called "brutal."[18] In June she said she was making good progress,[19] and in September she said she had completed chemotherapy.[3]

Kate gradually returned to public life, joining the royal family at the Remembrance events in November 2024.[20] In January 2025, visiting the hospital where she was treated, she said she was in remission.[21][4] In July she spoke of the "really difficult" period after chemotherapy,[5] and in May 2026 she traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, on her first official overseas trip since her treatment.[6]

Supporting stories (21)
  1. Kate, Princess of Wales, reveals cancer amid swirl of rumors, says she is undergoing chemotherapy
  2. Princess Kate says sorry for manipulated family photo, saying she was experimenting with editing
  3. Kate, Princess of Wales, has finished chemotherapy and plans to return to public duties soon
  4. Kate Middleton announces she is in remission from cancer
  5. Catherine, Princess of Wales opens up about ‘really difficult’ cancer recovery
  6. Princess Kate visits Italy in first official overseas trip since cancer treatment
  7. Kate, the Princess of Wales, hospitalized for up to two weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery
  8. Princess of Wales returns home from London hospital after abdominal surgery
  9. Where's Kate Middleton? The internet wants to know, but some argue it's off base to speculate
  10. First photo showing Kate Middleton since surgery posted for UK Mother’s Day
  11. First photo of Princess of Wales since her surgery is retracted because image appeared manipulated
  12. Photo of late Queen Elizabeth II with grandkids taken by Kate Middleton was ‘digitally’ altered
  13. Report alleges hospital staff tried to snoop on Kate Middleton's medical records
  14. Worldwide support pours in for Kate, the Princess of Wales, after shocking cancer reveal
  15. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle React to Kate Middleton’s Cancer Reveal: “We Wish Health and Healing”
  16. Blake Lively apologizes for mocking Kate Middleton ‘Photoshop fails’ after princess reveals cancer diagnosis
  17. Stephen Colbert addresses backlash to Kate Middleton jokes, but stops short of apology
  18. Prince William says year has been 'brutal' amid King Charles' and Princess Kate's cancer diagnoses
  19. Princess of Wales says she's making ‘good progress’ in cancer treatment, will attend a public event
  20. Kate Middleton makes rare appearance with royal family at festival
  21. Princess Kate returns to cancer center where she was treated to thank medical teams

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 36 recorded updates

May 2026

  1. Princess Kate visits Italy in first official overseas trip since cancer treatmentHeadline from KEYT Santa Barbara · 9 outlets

July 2025

  1. Catherine, Princess of Wales opens up about ‘really difficult’ cancer recoveryHeadline from KTVZ Bend · 8 outlets

January 2025

  1. Kate Middleton announces she is in remission from cancerHeadline from UPI · 44 outlets
  2. Princess Kate returns to cancer center where she was treated to thank medical teamsHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 3 outlets

November 2024

  1. Kate Middleton makes rare appearance with royal family at festivalHeadline from NBC Chicago · 10 outlets
  2. Prince William says year has been 'brutal' amid King Charles' and Princess Kate's cancer diagnosesHeadline from NBC New York · 13 outlets

September 2024

  1. Kate, the Princess of Wales, makes first public appearance after cancer treatmentHeadline from NBC 6 South Florida · 15 outlets
  2. Kate Middleton reaches new milestone after completing chemotherapy treatmentHeadline from NBC10 Philadelphia · 5 outlets
  3. Kate, Princess of Wales, has finished chemotherapy and plans to return to public duties soonHeadline from Tucson · 45 outlets

June 2024

  1. Kate Middleton Just Arrived at Trooping the ColourHeadline from Country Living · 6 outlets
  2. Princess of Wales says she's making ‘good progress’ in cancer treatment, will attend a public eventHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 58 outlets
  3. Kate Middleton apologizes for missing Trooping the Colour rehearsalHeadline from NBC10 Philadelphia · 5 outlets
  4. Prince William gives update on Kate Middleton's health amid cancer treatmentHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 4 outlets

May 2024

  1. Princess Kate won't attend upcoming military ceremony as she continues cancer treatmentHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 6 outlets

April 2024

  1. BBC Responds To Complaints That Its Coverage Of Kate Middleton’s Cancer Diagnosis Was “Excessive & Insensitive”Headline from Deadline · 5 outlets

March 2024

  1. Stephen Colbert addresses backlash to Kate Middleton jokes, but stops short of apologyHeadline from NBC News · 11 outlets
  2. Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William 'extremely moved' by support since her cancer revealHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 13 outlets
  3. Worldwide support pours in for Kate, the Princess of Wales, after shocking cancer revealHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 12 outlets
  4. Kate Middleton’s diagnosis comes amid early-onset cancer ‘epidemic’Headline from New York Post · 41 outlets
  5. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle React to Kate Middleton’s Cancer Reveal: “We Wish Health and Healing”Headline from The Hollywood Reporter · 9 outlets
  6. Kate, Princess of Wales, reveals cancer amid swirl of rumors, says she is undergoing chemotherapyHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 101 outlets
  7. Blake Lively apologizes for mocking Kate Middleton ‘Photoshop fails’ after princess reveals cancer diagnosisHeadline from NBC News · 8 outlets
  8. Report alleges hospital staff tried to snoop on Kate Middleton's medical recordsHeadline from Fox26 Houston · 41 outlets
  9. Photo of late Queen Elizabeth II with grandkids taken by Kate Middleton was ‘digitally’ alteredHeadline from New York Post · 5 outlets
  10. Why Kate Middleton’s reported farm shop visit with Prince William is now raising even more questionsHeadline from New York Post · 4 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →