Photos: A look at Kate, Princess of Wales, through the years

Associated Press
·9 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

After weeks of speculation about her whereabouts, Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced in a video message Friday that she is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Kate, 42, was hospitalized in January for unspecified abdominal surgery and until this week hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas, sparking a frenzy of conjecture about her health.

  • Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, leaves BAFTA, after she delivered a speech to launch the “Taking Action On Addiction” campaign, in London, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
    Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, leaves BAFTA, after she delivered a speech to launch the “Taking Action On Addiction” campaign, in London, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, shelters from the rain as she arrives at Kensington Palace for a reception for parents of users of a Centre for Early Childhood, on the day of the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, in London, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, shelters from the rain as she arrives at Kensington Palace for a reception for parents of users of a Centre for Early Childhood, on the day of the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, in London, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, smiles as she visits the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and meets with some of the young people that the charity supports, May 16, 2023, in Bath, England. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, smiles as she visits the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and meets with some of the young people that the charity supports, May 16, 2023, in Bath, England. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, right, walks with the bridesmaids and pageboys as they arrive for her sister Pippa Middleton’s wedding to James Matthews, at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, England, Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Justin Tallis/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, right, walks with the bridesmaids and pageboys as they arrive for her sister Pippa Middleton’s wedding to James Matthews, at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, England, Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Justin Tallis/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William, second left, Kate, Princess of Wales, left, Britain’s Prince Harry, second right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William, second left, Kate, Princess of Wales, left, Britain’s Prince Harry, second right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
  • FILE – Kate, Princess of Wales, centre, waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince William, right, Princess Charlotte, down left, and Prince Louis, down centre, during the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Kate, Princess of Wales, centre, waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince William, right, Princess Charlotte, down left, and Prince Louis, down centre, during the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales visit The Street, a community hub that hosts local organisations to grow and develop their services, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Thursday Nov. 3, 2022. (Charlotte Graham/Pool via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales visit The Street, a community hub that hosts local organisations to grow and develop their services, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Thursday Nov. 3, 2022. (Charlotte Graham/Pool via AP, File)
  • FILE – Prince Louis leans on Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant held outside Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Prince Louis leans on Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant held outside Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stands on centre court during the trophy presentation after Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Switzerland’s Roger Federer during the men’s singles final match of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stands on centre court during the trophy presentation after Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Switzerland’s Roger Federer during the men’s singles final match of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – From left, Britain’s Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ride in a carriage during the Trooping the Color parade in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – From left, Britain’s Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ride in a carriage during the Trooping the Color parade in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, laughs, during a visit to St Thomas’ Hospital with Prince William to promote mental health issuses, in London, Thursday March 10, 2016. (Toby Melville /Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, laughs, during a visit to St Thomas’ Hospital with Prince William to promote mental health issuses, in London, Thursday March 10, 2016. (Toby Melville /Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William, left, and Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a ceremonial welcome for the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade in London, England on Nov. 21, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William, left, and Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a ceremonial welcome for the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade in London, England on Nov. 21, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge pass along The Mall as part of a four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, London, Tuesday, June, 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi, Pool, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge pass along The Mall as part of a four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, London, Tuesday, June, 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, Thursday, June 2, 2022 as they watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over. (Paul Grover, Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, Thursday, June 2, 2022 as they watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over. (Paul Grover, Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge sits on a log with children at the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden, in London, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2018. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge sits on a log with children at the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden, in London, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2018. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – The Duchess of Cambridge talks to local people as she visits Summerfield Community Center, Birmingham, England Friday Aug. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Geoff Pugh, Pool, File)
    FILE – The Duchess of Cambridge talks to local people as she visits Summerfield Community Center, Birmingham, England Friday Aug. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Geoff Pugh, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George are seen in the royal box before the final of the men’s singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George are seen in the royal box before the final of the men’s singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge reacts during a visit to Battersea Park, as she met up with mothers, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Jack Hill/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge reacts during a visit to Battersea Park, as she met up with mothers, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Jack Hill/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge hold the Prince of Cambridge, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary’s Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Monday July 22. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge hold the Prince of Cambridge, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary’s Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Monday July 22. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William, right, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for the media with their newborn daughter outside St. Mary’s Hospital’s exclusive Lindo Wing, London, Saturday, May 2, 2015. The Duchess gave birth to the Princess on Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William, right, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for the media with their newborn daughter outside St. Mary’s Hospital’s exclusive Lindo Wing, London, Saturday, May 2, 2015. The Duchess gave birth to the Princess on Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their Royal Wedding in London Friday, April, 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their Royal Wedding in London Friday, April, 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall watch as Britain’s Prince William kisses his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in London Friday, April, 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall watch as Britain’s Prince William kisses his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in London Friday, April, 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William, right, and his wife Kate, left, the Duchess of Cambridge, wave to the crowd. Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Adelaide, Australia. (AP Photo/David Mariuz, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William, right, and his wife Kate, left, the Duchess of Cambridge, wave to the crowd. Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Adelaide, Australia. (AP Photo/David Mariuz, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP, File)
  • FILE – Prince William, right, and wife Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, watch track cycling at the velodrome during the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
    FILE – Prince William, right, and wife Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, watch track cycling at the velodrome during the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
  • FILE – Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey at the Royal Wedding in London Friday, April 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer, File)
    FILE – Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey at the Royal Wedding in London Friday, April 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn baby princess, pose for the media as they leave St. Mary’s Hospital’s exclusive Lindo Wing, London, Saturday, May 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn baby princess, pose for the media as they leave St. Mary’s Hospital’s exclusive Lindo Wing, London, Saturday, May 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, looks back during the opening ceremony of the renovated Commonwealth Street in central Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Munoz, Pool, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, looks back during the opening ceremony of the renovated Commonwealth Street in central Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Munoz, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge arrives to attend a service of commemoration to pay tribute to members of the British armed forces past and present who served on operations in Afghanistan, at St Paulís Cathedral, in central London, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge arrives to attend a service of commemoration to pay tribute to members of the British armed forces past and present who served on operations in Afghanistan, at St Paulís Cathedral, in central London, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge sits in the Royal Box for the final of the women’s singles between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on day thirteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge sits in the Royal Box for the final of the women’s singles between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on day thirteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a fashion show at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, Thursday March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Oli Scarff, Pool, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a fashion show at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, Thursday March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Oli Scarff, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge, right, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave Buckingham Palace in a open horse drawn carriage on their way to the Horse Guards Parade for the Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark the official birthday of the Queen, in London, Saturday, June 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge, right, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave Buckingham Palace in a open horse drawn carriage on their way to the Horse Guards Parade for the Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark the official birthday of the Queen, in London, Saturday, June 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge attends the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, in London, April 25, 2019. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge attends the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, in London, April 25, 2019. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, smile as they watch a shark ceremony as they arrive at Marapa Island, Solomon Islands, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Pool, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, smile as they watch a shark ceremony as they arrive at Marapa Island, Solomon Islands, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Pool, File)
  • FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception for parents of users of a Centre for Early Childhood, on the day of the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood at Kensington Palace in London, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/Pool Photo via AP, File)
    FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception for parents of users of a Centre for Early Childhood, on the day of the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood at Kensington Palace in London, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/Pool Photo via AP, File)

That didn’t stop after Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate and her children on March 10 to coincide with Mother’s Day in the U.K. The move backfired when The Associated Press and other news agencies retracted the picture from publication because it appeared to have been manipulated. Kate issued a statement acknowledging she liked to “experiment with editing” and apologizing for “any confusion” the photo had caused.

This week, video surfaced of her with her husband, Prince William, at a farm shop near their Windsor home, which set off another round of wild rumors.

The royal family announced last month that King Charles III was being treated for an unspecified type of cancer. Charles’ relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure for the generally secretive royal family.

Princess Kate reveals she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

The former Kate Middleton, who married William in a fairy-tale wedding in 2011, has boosted the popularity and appeal of the British monarchy worldwide more than any royal since Princess Diana.

Kate and William moved with their three children — George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5 — from Kensington Palace in central London to a cottage near Windsor Castle in 2022, emphasizing their desire to raise the children in relative privacy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.