Timeline of Kate Middleton's cancer fight: Princess of Wales' health battle after shock surgery two months ago to heartbreaking diagnosis and chemotherapy

The Princess of Wales has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer and been undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy after major abdominal surgery.

Kate's absence from public life as she convalesced had led to wild theories about her wellbeing, despite her being photographed four times in less than three weeks.

Now, today's announcement revealed her diagnosis - and it comes after King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer last month.

Here, MailOnline looks back at the last few months of royal news that led up to the dramatic news issued by Kensington Palace today.

December 25, 2023: Kate attends a Christmas Day service at Sandringham in Norfolk, which was her most recent public appearance at a royal event. She arrived with her husband Prince William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as well as other members of the Royal Family.

January, 16, 2024: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery, although this news is not announced until the following day.

January 17: Kensington Palace reveals Kate is being treated in hospital after undergoing successful surgery. Royal aides say she is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery. At the time of surgery, it was thought that Kate's condition was non-cancerous - and no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer.

January 17: Buckingham Palace announces just 90 minutes later that King Charles will be treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate.

December 25, 2023: Kate was last seen with her family attending church at Sandringham 

January 21: Prince Andrew's former wife Sarah, Duchess of York reveals she has been diagnosed with skin cancer, six months after being treated for breast cancer.

January 26: King Charles goes into the London Clinic for his prostate treatment.

January 29: Kate and Charles are both discharged from London Clinic on the same day. Charles is seen waving at well-wishers as he leaves with Camilla. Kate is not pictured leaving, but Kensington Palace says she has returned home to Windsor.

February 5: Buckingham Palace reveals Charles has cancer.

March 10: Kensington Palace released the first picture of Kate since her abdominal surgery

February 7: Prince Harry arrives in the UK from California to visit his father, before leaving the following day.

February 27: William pulls out of a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece in Windsor due to a 'personal matter.' 

Later that day, Buckingham Palace separately says Thomas Kingston, the son-in-law of Prince Michael of Kent, had died at the age of 45.

Late February: Kensington Palace said on March 22 that Kate started a course of 'preventative chemotherapy' in 'late February', but has not confirmed the exact date. It is also understood that post-operative tests found that cancer had been present, although again there is no exact date on these.

March 4: A photo published in the US shows Kate in Windsor as a front seat passenger in a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.

March 11: Prince William and Kate are seen leaving Windsor together as they are driven in a car 

March 10: Kensington Palace releases a photograph of Kate and her children to mark Mother's Day.

March 11: Irregularities are spotted in the Mother's Day photograph, which leads to the Princess admitting to 'editing' the image and apologising for any 'confusion' caused. Kate is later seen being driven out of Windsor in a car with William.

March 18: A video is published by TMZ and The Sun of William and Kate leaving the Windsor Farm Shop following a visit on March 16.

March 22: The Princess reveals in a video message that she has cancer.