The Princess of Wales shared her cancer diagnosis in a video message on Friday, while King Charles’ diagnosis was revealed on Feb. 5
Kate Middleton’s strong bond with King Charles is likely to grow amid her cancer diagnosis.
On Friday, the Princess of Wales, 42, shared her diagnosis in a personal video message posted to Instagram, over a month after Buckingham Palace revealed the King’s cancer news on Feb. 5.
Princess Kate likely found “some comfort and reassurance” in seeing the amount of “sympathy and understanding” the King received, a source tells PEOPLE.
The source notes that King Charles and Princess Kate had different interests when sharing their health information. For Kate, the source says, the priority was her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. The royal addressed this in her video message shared on Friday, saying, “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 okay.”
Meanwhile, the King had to consider his “constitutional obligations” in revealing his news.
The source tells PEOPLE there hasn’t been “great pressure” on the King to release more information about his cancer diagnosis and treatment following the palace’s statement.
Prior to Princess Kate’s announcement on Friday, she and King Charles shared a private lunch, PEOPLE understands.
The King “has always had a very good bond” with Kate, according to author Sally Bedell Smith, who released her book, George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy, in 2023.
“She’s interested in artistic things and she appreciates art and culture so has an affinity with the King over that,” Smith tells PEOPLE.
“Obviously, they have this in common and can only bring them closer. It is a source of reassurance and consolation for both of them,” the author adds.
