THE Princess of Wales has always been one of the greatest jewels in the monarchy’s crown.
She is hard-working and loyal, charming, enthusiastic and dependable.
Princess Kate bravely dealt with her cancer scare head-on and has the full support of her familyPA
The thought of Kate actually having to tell her scared children is heartbreakingArthur Edwards / The Sun
And on Friday she added bravery to her list of attributes.
For the first time ever, our future Queen addressed the nation — and the world.
It was undoubtedly one of the hardest speeches of her entire life.
But as she spoke about having cancer we didn’t hear the voice of a privileged princess.
The woman in front of us was just Kate — a young mum who was being forced to confront the harsh, terrifying reality that she has cancer.
Unsurprisingly Kate fiddled with her hands but her voice only slightly faltered once in a statement that she somehow managed to do in one single take to the camera.
She looked pale, and somewhat fragile, as she sat alone.
Kate told how she and William had been shocked by the diagnosis and had taken time to process it and then she said: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
At that moment I am sure every single mother in this country could relate.
My little boy is the same age as five-year-old Louis and the thought of telling him that Mummy is sick is harrowing.
The thought of Kate actually having to tell those three scared children is heartbreaking.
George, Charlotte and Louis may be heirs to the throne but they are Kate’s babies and that private conversation is one that no mother would ever want to have.
Kate says she told them: “I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits.”
And how we all hope she will fully heal. For her — and for those children.
We have always known that cancer has no respect for age, lifestyle or class.
If it did, our princess would most certainly not be going through this.
She is only 42 and leads the healthiest — and most privileged — of lives.
We have so often seen her outdoors, running around, keeping fit, showing off her sporting abilities.
Devastating news
This is a woman — a mother — in the prime of her life, which makes her pain and suffering seem bitterly cruel.
King Charles said on Friday night that he is “so proud of Catherine for her courage” in opening up about her treatment.
In speaking out, brave Kate cemented her — and the Royal Family — in our affections.
Because we now, more than ever before, realise that the Royal Family are just that, a family.
We can all empathise because we all know a family that has been struck by cancer.
We all know the anguish and hell each and every single family goes through when they are given such devastating news.
There is the initial shock, panic and tears followed by medical appointments and treatment.
There are the calls about work and how much time you should take off.
Then the heartbreaking task of first breaking the news to the children before telling people outside the family, who need to know the truth, what is going on.
And it is the painful final step that Kate took on Friday with all of us.
Some might think that we need to fear for the future of our Royal Family, with both Charles and Kate being ill, but after this statement from the Princess I am confident the Royal Family will emerge much stronger.
Because even the harshest anti-royalist can clearly now see that this is not just an institution.
This is a family, with a mum-of-three and a doting grandad, who desperately want to get better.
Not only for themselves and their country but for those precious young children.
Kit of a rip-off
The most offensive part of England’s new kit is the outrageously high priceEPA
A LOT of people are voicing their outrage at making the St George’s Cross on the new Nike England kit multicoloured rather than just red.
Something so traditional should never be tampered with but Nike says its design was to celebrate the 1966 World Cup team, adding it was “never our intention to offend”.
But what really offends me is the price.
It costs up to £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children.
How many families can truly afford to buy that so their kids can support their country? It is extortionate.
A sloth is best left in the wild and not suited to a London homeGetty
IF you search “can a sloth make a good pet” online, it says they are wild animals best suited for the tropical rainforest.
They can get agitated and claw humans who touch them.
But mega-rich Tamara Ecclestone got ten-year-old daughter Sophia one for her birthday and posted a snap of the poor mammal at what appeared to be her London home.
Some people really do have more money than sense.
THE Lotto curse strikes again. Matt Topham and Cassey Carrington wed months after their £45million win in 2012 but have now split, joining a long line of winners with wrecked love lives.
Even so, I’d definitely risk my marriage to The Geordie for a few million in my account.
Tesco tonic
PEOPLE are turning their noses up at Tesco’s new ham, egg and chips sandwich.
It features layers of Beechwood ham, chopped egg mayonnaise and salt-and-vinegar potato fries, topped with ketchup between two thick slices of white bread.
Some moan that cold potatoes is a bad idea, others whinge about the amount of fat and salt it contains.
People have called it weird. I call it the perfect hangover cure – and next time I have a fuzzy head, it will be off to Tesco I go.
Gran-anarama Keren
Bananarama singer Keren Woodward has a complaint about modern pop starsAlamy
I ALWAYS liked Bananarama and have been to see them on stage.
But singer Keren Woodward’s comments this week made her sound like my gran.
She sneered at today’s pop stars, saying: “I can’t get my head around what some of the singers wear these days.”
Luckily for her, she found fame in the 1980s when it was all modest dungarees, donkey jackets and leg warmers, but I am pretty sure back then she’d have worn whatever was in fashion to get noticed, even if it was a bit skimpy.
Taylor Swift should hold onto her rich and generous boyfriend Travis KelceGetty
TAYLOR SWIFT has famously had a turbulent love life.
But after 12 publicly known ex-boyfriends, she has been dating NFL football star Travis Kelce since September.
Apparently in that time he has spent a whopping £6.2million on dating her.
That equates to more than a million pounds a month.
Don’t stuff this one up, Taylor – he’s a definite keeper.
Unfair on ace Frank
Frank Skinner has learned his contract on Absolute Radio will not be renewedAlamy
OUT of the hundreds of people I have interviewed in my life, Frank Skinner was my absolute favourite.
I will never forget how funny, open, honest and truly kind he was to me.
I was a trainee reporter back in 1997 when I met him and, sensing how nervous I was, he said that he would give me an exclusive story that should make my boss happy.
He then proceeded to tell me about how he binged on cannabis and magic mushrooms which turned him into a paranoid wreck.
My boss was thrilled and I was given a new contract on The Sun.
So I am gutted for him that his contract on Absolute Radio hasn’t been renewed after 15 years at the station, apparently for being too old . . . at 67.
How utterly ridiculous and cruel. But I am pleased that the straight-talking comedian hasn’t minced his words about the situation.
He told his listeners he doesn’t want to go, explaining: “We had a good run but I realise that in recent times I am ever more becoming Grandpa from The Simpsons.
“I didn’t take it well. I took it in the way David Tennant took it as the tenth Doctor when he started to regenerate and said, ‘I don’t want to go.’ ”
I truly hope you find a much friendlier home for your talents, Frank.
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