This is a Global Player original podcast.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding

whilst I've been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family,

but I've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I'm so grateful.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London,

and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.

The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

That was Catherine, Princess of Wales, confirming to the world that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

It was a statement which will shock many and will worry even more.

And every single word was clearly designed as a response to the endless rumours which have gripped not only Britain, but the wider world as well in recent weeks and months. Yes, this was ultimately a hugely personal message at an immensely

difficult, taxing and traumatic time for the royal family when the king has got cancer and the

future queen has got cancer. But it's also a message to the amateur sleuths, to the conspiracy theorists,

to the conjecture merchants, and to the fantasists, just shut up and let her get better and let her

heal. Welcome to the newsagents. The newsagents.

It's John. It's Lewis.

It's Emily.

And I'm going to try and paint the picture in case you haven't seen that yet.

It's the Princess of Wales.

It's Kate Middleton.

And she's sitting on a bench.

It's really quite bucolic.

It's outside.

...