Catherine, Princess of Wales, was diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing preventative chemotherapy, she announced March 22.
The former Kate Middleton and her father-in-law, King Charles III, both received cancer diagnoses this year. After the king underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate, cancer was found, Buckingham Palace announced back in February.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement March 22 that Charles is "so proud" of Kate for speaking out about her treatment.
But what does this news mean for the royal family?
“It means that we have two senior members of the royal family undergoing cancer treatment. The king, of course, and now the Princess of Wales. Two of the most important members of the royal family. Two of the most popular members of the royal family. When you think back to recent weeks and, frankly, the madness that circulated on social media, so much of that has been generated by a public affection for and curiosity into the life of the Princess of Wales. She is much loved and much adored,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told NBC’s Lester Holt.
Nicholl added that the news is likely a "shock" to the world but "relief" to the Prince and Princess of Wales, in the wake of weeks of conspiracies and rumors about Kate's health and whereabouts.
"They’ve finally been able to come out, put those rumors to an end. They’ve been able to have time to process this information, to tell their three young children, which was clearly the priority in all of this,” Nicholl said.
With two senior members of the royal family experiencing health struggles, here's a refresher on the line of succession and the full family tree.
What is the line of succession in the British royal family?
The royal family has expanded since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles on May 6, 2023.
Princess Eugenie, the niece of Charles, welcomed a son with husband Jack Brooksbank on May 30, 2023.
Years before Elizabeth began her reign in 1952 and a year after her wedding to Prince Philip, they began a family, starting with Charles. Three other children — Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — came after, and their ventures into adulthood brought about storied marriages that captured the international spotlight.
Then, with more grandchildren, there came more regal weddings and marriages to feed the global obsession. With the addition of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, to the royal ranks, the family's megastar wattage turned up. As the first woman of color to marry into the family during the modern age, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, only throttled public interest in royal power.
The royal family tree is ever-expanding, with the different heirs branching off and forming their own lines of succession.
A look at the royal family tree
Here’s where the British family members stand now.
