Camilla gives update on Kate Middleton as she makes promise following princess’ cancer diagnosis

Queen Camilla has spoken out for the first time about the Princess of Wales and her cancer diagnosis saying she knows Kate is “thrilled by all the kind wishes and support”.

Camilla, 76, is visiting Shrewsbury today, where she met two young sisters who had made posters for Kate decorated with hearts and stars. Ten-year-old Harriet and Lois Waterston, aged six, asked the Queen if she would pass them on to the princess. She told the youngsters she would give Kate their gifts and remarked: “I know that Catherine is thrilled by all the kind wishes and support.” The older schoolgirl apologised and said: “I’m sorry they’re a bit creased” but Camilla crouched down to talk to them and told them: “I’ll take them carefully and we’ll make sure she knows they’re comingKate bravely announced on Friday she is being treated for cancer in an emotional video and is currently undergoing a course of chemotherapy that started in February. She was admitted to hospital on January 16 for “major abdominal surgery”, which has been confirmed as successful. At the time of her operation it was thought that her condition was non-cancerous, as no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However, post-operative tests confirmed that cancer had been present.Sitting outside on a dark brown park bench, in front of a lush spring backdrop of daffodils, the mum-of-three described her plight as “a huge shock” and confirmed she had, together with her husband Prince William , 41, personally informed their three children Prince George , 10, Princess Charlotte , eight and Prince Louis , five of her diagnosis – but told them: “I am going to be ok”. Since then, messages of support from around the world have flooded in for the princess, who said she was “enormously touched” by the kind messages.Today, Camilla was mobbed by thousands of well-wishers during a visit to a farmers’ market in Shrewsbury town centre where she met dozens of wellwishers who came out to see her. There she chatted to stallholders selling everything from food, jewellery and crafts. The visit to Shrewsbury was Camilla’s first royal engagement with members of the public since the monarchy’s double cancer scare. It has been a busy few days for Camilla, who has been leading the royals at many events since both Kate and her husband King Charles, who is also receving cancer treatment, stepped back from public engagements.Tomorrow, Camilla will represent the King at the annual Royal Maundy service and distribute unique coins to community stalwarts from across the country. Camilla will deputise for Charles when the ancient ceremony is held at Worcester Cathedral. Then on Sunday, she will join her husband when he attends church on Easter Sunday – his most significant public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer.Charles, 75, will join the Queen and other members of the royal family at the annual Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle this weekend. But the service will be a smaller version of the annual gathering, with fewer members of the royal family. Earlier this week, Charles was described by the Palace as being “so proud” of Kate for her courage in speaking out, and is said to be in “the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.It later emerged that just a day before Kate’s emotional video was released, she had a major heart-to-heart with her father-in-law. It is believed he travelled from London to Windsor to console his “beloved daughter-in-law” on Thursday after she had recorded her moving message to the nation, but before it aired on Friday evening. The Princess is said to have wanted to speak with the monarch to learn about his own struggle and to see how he’d been copingA source told The Sun : “They would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis. The King left his lunch feeling very emotional. They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”

However, Kate, Prince William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will miss the service on Sunday. The family are spending the Easter holidays together as they adjust to Kate’s diagnosis.