Prince William interrupted his family Easter break to send a personal message on social media, marking his first public words since the princess’s cancer diagnosis was revealed. The father of three paid tribute to England lioness Rachel Dy as he shared a personal message this afternoon on the official Instagram account he shares with the Princess of Wales. Currently spending the Easter holidays with Katherine and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Litz, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to the footballer after she announced her retirement.
The family have kept a low profile in recent weeks as the Princess of Wales takes time to recover amid rounds of preventative chemotherapy to stop the disease discovered during major abdominal surgery earlier this year. Prince William, who has not been seen publicly since his wife’s announcement, is not expected to resume his public duties until his children return to school after the holidays. Today, Prince William reacted to the news of Rachel D’s retirement from International Football, expressing gratitude for her performances and wishing her success with her future goals.
This message comes as William balances supporting his family and fulfilling his official duties, expected to return to public duties after the Easter break once his children are back in school. Throughout his life, William has faced grief and loss, from the loss of his mother Princess Diana to the recent passing of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth. The family’s guarded approach to media attention likely stems from Diana’s own experiences with the press. Despite the challenges, William and Katherine are trying to maintain dignity and privacy amidst the scrutiny of social media, facing constant rumors and speculation, particularly regarding Catherine’s health.
While the Princess of Wales’s treatment continues, she may attend events as she feels able to, following medical advice. In an emotional video message at the end of March, the future Queen said it had been an incredibly tough couple of months for her family but that she was well and getting stronger every day. She added that her work had always brought her a deep sense of joy and she looked forward to being back when able, focusing for now on making a full recovery.
In her address to the nation, Catherine revealed that she and William had been doing everything they could to process and manage this privately for the sake of their young family, expressing gratitude for William’s comfort and reassurance. Buckingham Palace stated that His Majesty was proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did. The Royal was at the center of conspiracy theories questioning her disappearance after abdominal surgery, despite the palace stating she needed time to recover. Interest in Katherine’s health sparked by her absence from a memorial service highlighted the challenges of maintaining privacy in the face of public interest, while King Charles’s own cancer diagnosis added to the complexities faced by the royal family.