Catherine Elizabeth Middleton or Kate Middleton, as she is more popularly known, is a member of the British Royal Family.

Kate is married to William, Prince of Wales, since 2011, and they have three children together - Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales. In her recent video announcement, she said it had taken time to explain the situation to her three children.

Kate was last seen at a public engagement on December 25, when she joined the king and other senior royals at a Christmas Day church service. Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that she was facing up to two weeks in hospital and several months' recuperation following abdominal surgery. She was not expected to resume public duties until after Easter on December 31, the earlier statement said.

On Friday, March 22, Kate announced that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is in the early stages of preventive chemotherapy treatment. The disclosure came after royal officials said in February that King Charles III was being treated for cancer, forcing him to cancel all public engagements. Like Charles, the 42-year-old princess, whose husband Prince William is heir to the throne, did not disclose the exact nature of the cancer.

In her public announcement, Kate revealed that she had undergone major abdominal surgery, and it was said to be non-cancerous at the time. While the surgery was successful, tests after it was done, found that the cancer had been present, and for which she will continue her treatment. 

The video puts to rest all rumours about her disappearance especially after the recent photo controversy. Kensington Palace sought to end mounting questions about Kate, releasing a Mother's Day photograph said to have been taken by William.But the plan backfired after it was later found to have been digitally altered and saw leading news agencies, including AFP, pull the image.