--- description: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex learned of Kate Middleton's diagnosis at the same time as the public, reports say. title: Harry and Meghan Learned Kate's Cancer Diagnosis on TV image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c0cc003e257602d/698a551bd075335d08e709d8/royal-family-members.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [royals](/tag/royals/) ## royals Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Harry and Meghan Learned of Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis on TV, Reports Say  by [Armani Syed](/author/armani-syed/)  ## Armani Syed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau. Mar 25, 2024 12:18 PM CUT  Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 10, 2022 in Windsor, England.Chris Jackson—Getty Images  by [Armani Syed](/author/armani-syed/)  ## Armani Syed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau. Mar 25, 2024 12:18 PM CUT Prince Harry and Meghan Markle learned about Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis through television broadcast at the same time as the public, according to [The Times of London](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kate-king-charles-hospital-visits-closer-ever-jx70bqkc7 "undefined"). On Friday, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales put months of [speculation](https://time.com/6958318/kate-middleton-farm-shop-windsor/ "undefined") and [conspiracy theories](https://time.com/6837732/kate-middleton-health-tmz-photo/ "undefined") to rest when she shared her cancer diagnosis in a [rare video address](https://time.com/6959819/kate-middleton-cancer-diagnosis/ "undefined"). Kate said that in the aftermath of planned abdominal surgery, medics found that “cancer had been present.” “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” Kate added. She said the diagnosis was a “huge shock” and that she and William are managing the news privately for their young family. Further details about her condition have not been shared, but Kensington Palace says the Princess is [confident she will recover fully](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68650322#:~:text=Catherine%20revealed%20on%20Friday%20that,will%20make%20a%20full%20recovery. "undefined"). **Read More:** [_How the World Is Reacting to Kate Middleton’s Cancer Diagnosis_](https://time.com/6959913/kate-middleton-cancer-diagnosis-reactions/ "undefined") The Times said several sources confirmed that Kate’s diagnosis was not shared with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in advance. A family source also [told PEOPLE](https://people.com/meghan-markle-prince-harry-reached-out-to-kate-middleton-after-cancer-announcement-8619642 "undefined") that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “left out of any details regarding Kate’s diagnosis.” The source added: “There is clearly no trust.” “It speaks volumes that Harry and Meghan learnt of the diagnosis from the news. The brothers reportedly haven’t been in contact for months and trust has completely broken down,” royal historian Richard Fitzwilliams tells TIME. Once dubbed The Fantastic Four by British media, their relationships have deteriorated. Harry and William have had a tense relationship for years, which Harry detailed at length in his [bombshell memoir _Spare_,](https://time.com/6245103/prince-harry-spare-memoir-revelations/ "undefined") where he accused his brother of physically attacking him. Kate and Meghan also have their own tensions, which the latter spoke about in the Netflix docuseries [_Harry & Meghan_](https://time.com/6239745/harry-and-meghan-netflix-docuseries-explained/ "undefined"). The Royal family has faced two major losses in recent years, with the deaths of [Prince Phillip](https://time.com/4766497/prince-philip-dies/ "undefined") in April 2021 and [Queen Elizabeth II](https://time.com/4619423/queen-elizabeth-dies/ "undefined") in September 2022\. At times of crisis, the family has often come together to carry out ceremonial duties, and there is a small possibility Kate’s period of recovery could reunite them. “A serious illness can change everything and bring families together. This may happen. Harry will return to see his father and perhaps the brothers will see each other,” Fitzwilliams says. “It could open the path to reconciliation in the weeks and months ahead. However, it is unlikely at the moment.” In February, Harry flew to the U.K. upon hearing of the King Charles III’s [cancer diagnosis](https://time.com/6691653/king-charles-cancer-diagnosis/ "undefined"). He met with his father for less than an hour, before flying back to Los Angeles the next day. While brief, the visit marked [a reunion](https://time.com/6695837/prince-harry-interview-king-charles-diagnosis-reunion/ "undefined") for the pair, who had not seen each other since the King’s coronation in May 2023\. Following Kate’s cancer disclosure, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement wishing her “health and healing.” They also said they hope the family has the space to handle the news “privately and in peace.” The Sussexes have also [reportedly](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/prince-harry-texting-william-after-32432826 "undefined") reached out directly to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Royal commentator Sarah-Louise Robertson told GB News “there have been some text messages, some exchanges,” that could prove to be “an olive branch” between the two families. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6960226/harry-meghan-kate-middleton-cancer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6960226/harry-meghan-kate-middleton-cancer/"},"headline":"Harry and Meghan Learned of Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis on TV, Reports Say","datePublished":"2024-03-25T12:18:40.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T17:21:08.537Z","description":"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex learned of Kate Middleton's diagnosis at the same time as the public, reports say.","url":"https://time.com/6960226/harry-meghan-kate-middleton-cancer/","keywords":["royals","News"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c0cc003e257602d/698a551bd075335d08e709d8/royal-family-members.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Armani Syed","jobTitle":"Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau.","url":"https://time.com/author/armani-syed/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c0cc003e257602d/698a551bd075335d08e709d8/royal-family-members.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"The Prince and Princess of Wales Accompanied By The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex Greet Wellwishers Outside Windsor Castle","caption":"The Prince and Princess of Wales Accompanied By The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex Greet Wellwishers Outside Windsor Castle","creditText":"Chris Jackson—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/royals/","name":"royals"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6960226/harry-meghan-kate-middleton-cancer/","name":"Harry and Meghan Learned of Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis on TV, Reports Say"}}]}] ```