Queen Camilla said the Princess of Wales “will be thrilled” after receiving posters from well-wishers while on a visit to Shrewsbury this afternoon.
Today, while on a visit to Shrewsbury, 76-year-old Camilla met two young sisters who had created star- and heart-shaped posters for Catherine. Ten-year-old Harriet and six-year-old Lois Waterston asked the Queen to give them to the princess. After promising to give Catherine the gifts the children had given her, she said, “I know that Catherine is thrilled by all the kind wishes and support.” “I’m sorry they’re a bit creased,” the older schoolgirl apologized. Camilla knelt down to speak with them, telling them, “I’ll take them carefully and we’ll make sure she knows they’re coming.”
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In a moving video posted on Friday, Catherine bravely disclosed that she is receiving cancer treatment. She began chemotherapy in February. It has been confirmed that the “major abdominal surgery” for which she was admitted to the hospital on January 16 was successful. Since no tests had shown that cancer was present, it was believed at the time of her surgery that her condition was not cancerous. Post-operative testing did, however, confirm the presence of cancer.
The mother-of-three described her situation as “a huge shock” while sitting outside on a dark brown park bench in front of a vibrant springtime backdrop of daffodils. She also confirmed that she and her husband, Prince William, 41, had personally informed their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, of their diagnosis, but that they had assured them that “I am going to be ok”. The princess has since received a deluge of supportive messages from people all over the world, and she declared herself “enormously touched” by them.
Thousands of well-wishers flocked to Camilla today as she visited a farmers’ market in the heart of Shrewsbury, where she was greeted by dozens of people. She struck up conversations with vendors there offering everything from crafts to jewelry to food. Camilla’s first public engagement as a member of the royal family since the monarchy’s double cancer scare occurred during the visit to Shrewsbury. Camilla, who has been leading the royals at numerous events since Catherine and her husband King Charles—who is also undergoing cancer treatment—withdrew from public appearances, has had a hectic few days.
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At the yearly Royal Maundy service tomorrow, Camilla will represent the King and give special coins to national community leaders. Charles will be replaced by Camilla at the historic ceremony in Worcester Cathedral. She will then accompany her husband on Sunday to church on Easter Sunday, which will be his biggest public appearance since receiving the cancer diagnosis.
This weekend, Charles, 75, will attend the yearly Easter Mattins Service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle alongside the Queen and other members of the royal family. However, there won’t be as many members of the royal family attending the service as there is at the yearly event. The Palace said earlier this week that Charles is “the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law” and that he is “so proud” of Catherine for her bravery in speaking out.
It was subsequently revealed that Catherine had a serious heart-to-heart with her father-in-law the day before her moving video was made public. He is said to have traveled to Windsor from London on Thursday to comfort his “beloved daughter-in-law” following her recording of her poignant message to the country, but prior to its Friday night broadcast. It is reported that the Princess wished to talk to the monarch in order to find out about his own struggles and how he was managing.
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They would have had a lot to talk about and share because the King had started his treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis only a few weeks prior, an insider told The Sun. The King was very emotional as he left his lunch. He considers Catherine to be his daughter and they have a close relationship. Without a doubt, they have a great deal in common and can lean on one another for support as they fight their own extremely personal cancers.”
Catherine, Prince William, and their kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, won’t be attending the Sunday service, though. While they come to terms with Catherine’s diagnosis, the family is spending the Easter holidays together.
