Kate Middleton and King Charles Had a Heartfelt Meeting Before Her Cancer Reveal

It was a rare occurrence that hints at how close they are.

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Kate Middleton and King Charles had a heart-to-heart conversation after she finished recording her cancer announcement video on Wednesday, March 20. The pair met two days before her diagnosis was revealed publicly on Friday, March 22 — and a meeting like that is somewhat rare, according to a royal expert.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed that "the king had lunch with Catherine on Wednesday in Windsor after she recorded [her video] message." The outlet also reports that Charles visited his daughter-in-law while she was being treated for her abdominal surgery at The London Clinic.

"That's quite special. I don't think you get to have many one-to-one audiences with the king," Nicholl added. "I think that's an indication of how close they are, and certainly this shared experience, this shock double cancer diagnosis will only bring them closer."

Charles announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February. Per ET's sources, Middleton reportedly filmed the video in which she revealed her cancer diagnosis on March 20 and started treatment for her cancer in January.

A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024

Nicholl additionally shared that Charles was "really behind" the Princess of Wales' decision to film the video and write the speech herself despite it being "a breach of protocol." Seeing how the public responded when he revealed his diagnosis made him feel comfortable in Middleton's — "He's also been on the receiving end of that support from the public, and that has [helped] him through a very difficult period."

The royal expert confirmed that Middleton "did speak to her father-in-law before the message, and of course with her husband, because she knew what she was doing was actually a little bit different from the norm, and they both gave their full backing and recognized this was the best way to do it."

Middleton's message formally arrived on March 22 and saw her speaking directly to the camera in an intimate, dressed down video. "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," she revealed. "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."

She continued, "Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too. As is the love, support, and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you’ll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment."

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