Princess Kate "may not be seen until later this year", as the royal continues her cancer treatment in private, a royal commentator has claimed.
Announcing her health news earlier this year, the Princess of Wales revealed that following planned abdominal surgery, doctors found cancer "had been present", and she had begun "preventative chemotherapy" as a result.
Speaking to GB News, Royal Broadcaster and Historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo responded to reports that the Princess "may not return to public duties until later this year", despite Kensington Palace reassuring royal fans that Kate would return "after Easter".
In conversation with host Dawn Neesom, Heydel-Mankoo questioned the time frame of the reports, but admitted that the treatment Princess Kate is undergoing "could take up to 12 months" to complete.
Rafe Heydel-Mankoo says Princess Kate's preventative treatment 'could take up to 12 months' to complete
PA / GB News
Heydel-Mankoo told GB News: "Preventative chemotherapy, which is the treatment that the Princess of Wales is undertaking, can take anywhere from three to 12 months.
"It's normally four to six, but it could take up to 12 months."
Defending the royal's request for privacy made during her cancer announcement, Heydel-Mankoo urged royal fans "not to become impatient" or "speculate as to what is going on" in regards to Kate's health.
He admitted however that it could "easily be a 12 month period of treatment" that she is undergoing, and "in which case it may well be that we don't see her until later on this year".
The Princess of Wales announced she had begun 'preventative chemotherapy' earlier this year
PA
Heydel-Mankoo explained: "We have to respect Kate's wishes and not speculate so much and stick to the facts.
"But actually, the facts do back up some of these reports in these articles."
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Discussing Princess Kate's announcement video, an update provided by Kensington Palace as a result of widespread speculation about the royal's whereabouts, Heydel-Mankoo claimed that any significant update to Kate's condition "would be revealed via another video announcement or statement".
Heydel-Mankoo said: "We would, of course, expect fully that the Royal Household, Kensington Palace, would issue a video or other update statement periodically, to avoid the the rampant speculation that unfortunately, we saw previously.
"But certainly we know that she's going to go to Sandringham next week to Amner Hall, her residence there."
Rafe Heydel-Mankoo revealed the Princess has enlisted a 'small circle' of trustees for support
GB News
Detailing further about the Princess's recovery and her recuperation at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, the royal broadcaster said Kate has enlisted a "small circle" of support, including her siblings Pippa and James Middleton.
Heydel-Mankoo said of Kate's trip to Sandringham: "Her parents will be there most likely as well, staying with her next week, and she's got a very small circle around her.
"We understand just her family, rather than any wider circle of friends, and they're giving her the support and care that she needs, and I think we should be respectful of that, to not get too caught up in speculating on all of these things."
GB News has approached Kensington Palace for comment.