June 8, 2026

Kate Opens Up About Cancer’s Impact on William, George, Charlotte and Louis

Show Notes
Transcript

The Princess of Wales shares one of her most personal reflections yet on how cancer affected not only her but the entire family. We hear Kate’s emotional comments during a visit to Manchester and discuss growing speculation about a possible future trip to the United States. Plus: why a royal visit to the World Cup appears unlikely, Prince William pays tribute to former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger, Sophie and Edward enjoy a memorable visit to Portugal, and Queen Camilla’s son reveals the surprising way royal life changed his mother’s cooking instructions.

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Ah Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome through Palace Intrigue.

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I am your host, Mark Francis. Catherine, the Princess of Wales,

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has shared a rare and deeply personal reflection on how

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her cancer diagnosis affected not only her but the people

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closest to her. During a visit to the Christi NHS

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Foundation Trust in Manchester on Thursday, Kate met patients and

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families receiving cancer treatment and spoke candidly about her own

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experience as she greeted a woman celebrating the completion of

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her treatment. The emotional moment came as the Princess met

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Claire Laurente, who was marking her final day of treatment

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for breast cancer. After embracing her, Catherine said well done you.

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As the conversation continued, the Princess reflected on the impact

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cancer can have on an entire family. I know it's

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just as hard for families and loved ones, she said,

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I know how hard it was for the children and

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my parents. You go through it with The Princess also

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shared a touching moment with Lorento's young child, smiling as

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she said, isn't mummy brave? A new theory circulating among

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royal watchers suggest that Kate may be subtly signaling a

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future visit to the United States through an unexpected source

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her wardrobe. The speculations followed two recent public appearances in

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which Catherine chose designs from an American fashion label, prompting

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some royal fans to wonder whether a US tour could

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be under consideration. During a visit to Italy last month,

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the princess wore an ivory pleated skirt by Los Angeles

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based designer Jenny Kine. The trip marked Catherine's first major

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overseas engagement since her cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery. Then

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last week, Catherine attended a reception celebrating the one hundred

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and twenty fifth anniversary of Cancer Research UK, wearing a

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red and white dress by Rodate, another American fashion house

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based in LA According to the social media account Kate

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Middle Style, which closely tracks the princess's fashion choice, the

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back to back selections stood out because both designers were

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first time choices for Catherine. Two royal appearances to American labels,

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each worn for the very first time. The account wrote,

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as somebody who has followed Kate's fashion choices for fifteen years.

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This may be sit up and take notice a thread

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on why I think a US trip is coming this summer.

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That said, Kate and William reportedly have no plans at

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present to attend the World Cup in the United States,

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despite ongoing speculation that the tournament could provide an opportunity

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for a high profile royal visit. According to royal journalist

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Emily Nation, no invitation has emerged so far, and as

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things currently stand, a trip appears unlikely. There's been a

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lot of talk about this over the past few months,

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but no invitation has serviced so far, so right now

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I doubt it will happen. Nash said, as Williams set himself,

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these trips take a lot out of you. I think

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he said you're on send and receive the whole time,

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which I thought was a really interesting way of putting it.

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You're in a situation where you're having to give one

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hundred and ten percent of yourself a whole time time

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you're out there, and you're being scrutinized at every turn.

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If Catherine were to make the trip, Nash bellieves the

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reception in America would be significant. We've seen the reception

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that they've had in America in the past, and it's

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fair to say that it's always been incredibly warm, she said.

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I think, particularly after everything she's been through, people would

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be delighted to see her while at joint appearance by

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the Prince and Princess of Wales. Currently seems unlikely, William

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could still make a solo visit if England progresses deep

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into the tournament. As president of the Football Association, William

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has long been one of England football's most visible supporters.

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Nash added, I think if England would get to the

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final that I'd be very surprised if William didn't attend.

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He's always been hugely supportive of the England team. We

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know he has close personal friendships with a lot of

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the players and he would one hundred percent want to

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be there. Nash also pointed out that Royal travel is

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often influenced by government priorities as well as the family schedules.

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There's a big government element to this, so they don't

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really choose when they get to do things. It may

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be that the it may be that the government doesn't

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think it's as urgent right now for them to make

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a visit to the US. Prince William has paid tribute

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to former MI six chief Sir Alex Younger, following his

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death at the age of sixty two. Sir Alex, who

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led Britain's secret intelligence service from twenty fourteen till twenty twenty,

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died after a battle with cancer. The Prince of Wales

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shared a personal message through Kensington Palace's social media accounts

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describing Sir Alex as an outstanding public servant whose work

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helped protect the country. Sir Alex, known within intelligence circles

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as c, spent decades serving in British intelligence before becoming

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chief of MI six, a role he had held during

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a period marked by major international security challenges. William wrote,

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I was saddened to hear of the death of Alex Younger.

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He embodied the very best of what the Secret Intelligence

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Service stands for, integrity, courage and an unwavering commitment to

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protecting this country and its people. Britain has lost an

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exceptional public servant. My thoughts are with Lady Younger in

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their family, and signed the message simply with the letter

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w More Palace in just a moment. Apparently, Sophie liked

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Portugal during a visit to Graham's Wine Lodge in Porto,

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Sophie and Edward took part in the long standing custom

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of baptizing a cask of port wine ceremony previously carried

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out by other members of the royal family, including the

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Duke of Kent. As the Touchess hadmired an enormous bottle

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of port, she joked about its size. We could swim

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in it, Sophie laughed, Then making a cradling motion with

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her arms, she added, or we could cradle it. Moments later,

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with a countdown at three two one, the duches splashed

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her glass of port onto the barrel before Prince Edward

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followed suit. The visit also highlighted causes that are particularly

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important to both royals. While Sophie attended a private engagement,

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Prince Edward met students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh

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International Award Program at the Porto British School, continuing the

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work established by his late father, Prince Philip. The Duke

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appeared in relaxed form as he chatted with students, discussed

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hobbies and school subjects, and even demonstrated practical outdoor skills.

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When one child enthusiastically told him that ice skating was

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a favorite pastime. Edward responded with a smile. Is there

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much ice skating to do in Portugal? The youngster laughter

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replied no. Queen Camilla may be one of the most

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recognizable figures in Britain, but according to her son, becoming

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queen required at least one unexpected adjustment cleaning up her language.

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Tom Parker Bowls share the family anecdote during an appearance

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on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio, where

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the conversation turned to one of Camilla's favorite recipes. Asked

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to reveal the Queen's method for preparing roast chicken, Parker

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Balls explained that his mother has always favored a simple approach.

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It's the same one you get the best chicken you

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can afford, he said. He then described one small change

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that has apparently come with royal life. Shover place, please

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place a lemon. Place a lemon actually down its neck cavity.

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Explaining the joke, Parker Balls his mother used to be

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rather more direct with her instructions. She used to say,

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where the sun don't shine, but it's not actually where

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the sun doesn't and it's the neck. The exchange prompted

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laughter in the studio, with host Chris Evans joking that

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the queen had clearly changed her language since ascending two

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the throne. Parker Bowles also used the interview to push

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back against some of the long running myths that have

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followed his mother over the years, particularly claims about her

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drinking habits. Speaking previously on the White Wine Question Time podcast,

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he said, contrary to popular sort of stereotype, I've never

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in my whole life seen her even tipsy. Never. She

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doesn't drink gin, which is this whole thing, And she

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gave up fags twenty years ago, thirty years ago maybe.

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When host Kate Thornton suggested there was a persistent image

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of Camilla enjoying gin and cigarettes, Parker Bowles dismissed the

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idea exactly, and you know, and that was the case

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for a long time. But no, no, not gin, he added.

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She likes spread wine, but as a very moderate and

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sensible drinker, you know what I mean, A glass and

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a half literally, And there you have it. He all

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This is Palace Intrigue and good Times

Kate Opens Up About Cancer’s Impact on William, George, Charlotte and Louis

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