Departure from Windsor

William and Kate set off on their Easter vacation

Kate and William are spending the Easter vacations at their country estate Anmer Hall in Norfolk.(Bild: www.viennareport.at)

One day after Princess Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, she and Prince William and their children have taken off from Windsor, so to speak. 

According to British media reports, the Crown Prince's family boarded a helicopter near their home in Adelaide Cottage on Saturday to fly to their country estate, Anmer Hall.

Relaxation and time with the children in the country
The Princess, who has started preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer following abdominal surgery, is thought to be recuperating with the children in the country during the Easter break. 

King Charles, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, is also taking time out at his country estate Sandringham.

Royal fans leave flowers and messages
Meanwhile, in Windsor and outside Buckingham Palace in London on Saturday, royal fans flocked to show their support and love for Kate.

Bouquets of flowers and heartfelt, handwritten letters for the Princess piled up after news of her shocking diagnosis made the rounds. One letter reads: "Your Royal Highness, I wish you a safe and lasting recovery from this treatment from the bottom of my heart. My thoughts are with you at every moment."

People leave flowers and get-well wishes for Princess Kate outside Windsor Castle.(Bild: APA/AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Flowers for Princess Kate outside Windsor Castle(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Britain in shock
The Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis has come as a huge shock to the UK. 

After Princess Kate made her cancer diagnosis public, many people praised the 42-year-old's courage and expressed hope for a speedy recovery. The British newspapers all reported on the fate of the popular princess on page one on Saturday. "Kate, you're not alone" was the headline in the tabloid "The Sun".

Kate made her cancer diagnosis public in a video message on Friday, following widespread speculation about her state of health in recent weeks. The Princess of Wales said that the cancer had been discovered after her abdominal operation in mid-January. She is now undergoing chemotherapy.

However, she is "doing well" and feels "stronger by the day", she said. Doctors had advised her to undergo "preventative chemotherapy" "and I am now in the early stages of this treatment". She did not say exactly what type of cancer she was suffering from.

Princess Kate on all the front pages(Bild: APA/AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Much praise for Kate's video message
For the British, it was the second piece of bad news from their royal family after King Charles III announced that he had cancer at the beginning of February. Charles III declared on Friday evening that he was "proud" of Kate, who had shown "courage" by announcing her cancer diagnosis.

"The Sun wrote on Saturday that it was "incredibly comforting" to hear that Kate was already feeling a little better. Perhaps the world will now understand why there was so much secrecy surrounding her operation in January. Commentators praised the natural way in which Kate informed her fellow countrymen about her illness while sitting on a garden bench in front of the camera.

"Many people will be very touched by the way she gave herself in this recording," said British royal family expert Richard Fitzwilliams. "But there's no doubt that this is a very, very difficult time for the institution of the monarchy."