Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Break Silence on Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are breaking their silence just hours after Kate Middleton announced she's battling cancer.

In a statement to ET, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say, "We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace."

Harry and Meghan's remarks come not long after the Princess of Wales announced Friday that tests after her abdominal surgery in January showed she had cancer. She added, "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment."

Kate, 42, shares three children with Prince William -- Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

"This of course came as a huge shock. And William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," she added in her video statement. "As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louie in a way that's appropriate for them and to reassure them that I'm going to be okay. As I said to them, I am well, and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal. In my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort."

The palace nor Kate shared what type of cancer she's battling, only that she's now undergoing chemo treatment. Following the devastating news, a source told ET that Kate filmed the video on March 20, and she started receiving cancer treatment shortly after her surgery in January.

Harry and Meghan's statement comes just after King Charles III also showed his support for his daughter-in-law, with a Buckingham Palace spokesperson sharing how the Princess of Wales' father-in-law feels about the announcement.

Charles is "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did," the spokesperson tells ET. Following their time in hospital together, Charles has "remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks," and both royals "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time."

The cancer revelation comes more than two months after the palace announced on Jan. 17 that Kate had undergone "planned abdominal surgery." That same day, the palace also announced that His Majesty would seek treatment for an enlarged prostate. Some two weeks later, Buckingham Palace announced Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

Harry and Meghan's statement comes amid ongoing tension with the royals that dates back to 2020 when the couple decided to step away from royal life and relocate to the United States. In fact, royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET why she believes Harry and Meghan aren't being kept in the loop amid speculation of Kate's whereabouts.

"Of course they're aware she's been in the [hospital], I'm not even sure they know what's she's been in for because the relationship is very estranged now, you know, the brothers don't talk and Kate and Meghan certainly don't talk, so while well-wishes have been extended -- certainly on the part of the Sussexes -- I'm not sure that they're actually as in the loop as perhaps more senior members of the royal family," Nicholl said.

And as far as the Duke and Duchess extending an olive branch to the Prince and Princess of Wales, Nicholl's not buying it.

"I know there were reports, particularly over in the U.S., that Meghan had reached out to Kate that there had been some sort of a thawing of the relationship," Nicholl tells ET. "I think those reports are slightly wide off the mark."

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