British royal family rocked by three separate cancer diagnoses within 12 months

The British royal family has been rocked by a series of unfortunate events, with three members announcing cancer news within just one year. 

Early this morning, it was announced via a video statement released by Kensington Palace that Kate Middleton has been diagnosed with cancer. 

Watch the video above

READ MORE: Kate diagnosed with cancer: 'Tough couple of months'

"It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family," said the Princess of Wales in the video statement. "But I've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

"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," she 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."

READ MORE: How George, Charlotte, and Louis found out about Kate's diagnosis.

The news comes just two months after her father-in-law, King Charles, announced his own diagnosis with the disease. 

On February 5 Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the King has gone into hospital for benign prostate enlargement, however during the procedure his medical team "identified a form of cancer."

For the past two months, King Charles has been undergoing a schedule of regular treatments. 

It is not known what form of cancer Charles or Kate are battling, however both senior royals have taken a step back from public-facing duties to allow them time to focus on their respective health. 

Former wife of Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, shared her own cancer news back in February when she received a skin cancer diagnosis six months after her diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. 

The Duchess of York personally addressed the news in a candid social media post a day after her diagnosis made headlines.

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The history of cancer diagnoses in the British royal family

Fergie admitted she has "been taking some time to myself" following her second cancer diagnosis after undergoing a mastectomy last year.

"It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was," she wrote to Instagram.

READ MORE: King Charles 'so proud of Catherine for her courage'.

Following Kate's announcement early this morning, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that King Charles is "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did".

Both royals were treated at The London Clinic, and His Majesty has "remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks".

Both King Charles and Queen Camilla "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time", the spokesperson said.