Kate Middleton's Cancer Reveal Was a "Shock" to Close Friends

Kate Middleton's cancer reveal wasn't just a shock to the world — it was a shock to some of her closest friends, too.

People reported that some of the Princess of Wales's closest friends and confidants had no idea that she was dealing with cancer and were left out of the loop ahead of her March 22 announcement, in which she revealed the news about her health condition.

"It was a heck of a shock," a source told the outlet. A palace aide also spoke with the magazine, noting that Middleton's "circle of knowledge was very tight" before her video was released.

It's not surprising that Middleton kept her diagnosis under wraps leading up to her announcement.The Mirror reported on March 19 that at least one staff member at The London Clinic in Marylebone, London — where she was being treated following her abdominal surgery — made an attempt to illegally access Middleton's medical records. A source told The Mirror that “senior hospital bosses” notified Kensington Palace of the security breach and told royals that a thorough investigation into the matter would be conducted.

By March 20, two days before Middleton's cancer reveal, police became involved. According to The Independent, British health minister Maria Caulfield revealed that authorities were "asked to look at" whether staff at The London Clinic tried gaining unlawful access to Middleton's medical history. The health minister added that there would be "hefty implications" of prosecutions, fines, or both for accessing the files.

While there hasn't been a major update regarding Middleton's medical record breach, she revealed the news of her health in an intimate video on March 22.

"In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous," she explained in the video. "The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team, therefore, advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I’m now in the early stages of that treatment."

She continued, "We hope that you’ll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I am able. But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery."