No Kate 'for Months': Princess of Wales' Cancer Will Deprive Public of Popular Royal for Even Longer Than First Announced

Catherine, Princess of Wales, was originally expected to return to royal duties "after Easter," but that is now likely to change in the wake of her cancer diagnosis.

"It's devastating news," royal expert Phil Dampier shared. "We thought she was on the mend. We thought we were possibly going to see her at Easter. We might not see her for several months."

"So it is very, very worrying," he added. "But there’s been this extraordinary outpouring of support and love all over the world. Let’s hope this shuts up the conspiracy theorists. I’m not sure that it will, but I think certainly the mainstream media will try and give her the time and space that she needs to heal."

He continued: "This is a bit of a crisis now for the royal family because we’ve got her and the King out of action. It is a very, very tough time for them."

Dampier, who has links to several palace insiders, also admitted to GBN's Ben Leo that the future queen's announcement "came out of the blue" for him.

The Princess of Wales recorded an "emotional" video message on Wednesday, March 20, in the garden of her home, Adelaide Cottage near Windsor Castle. In the clip, which was released on Friday, March 22, she stated: "In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present."

HRH continued: "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment. This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time."

Sources close to Kensington Palace revealed that the video was released on the day Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, began their Easter holidays. This was in a move designed to help shield the children from non-stop press coverage of their mother's condition, which they likely would have seen and heard while at school.

"It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment," the princess added. "But, most importantly, 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."

The future queen then shared: "As I have said to 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."