Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Privately Reached Out to Kate Middleton and Prince William After Cancer Announcement

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are supporting Prince William and Kate Middleton both publicly and privately following Kate’s cancer announcement.

PEOPLE understands that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have privately reached out to the Prince and Princess of Wales amid Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, also showed their support for Kate, 42, by speaking out in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday.

“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” Harry and Meghan said in the statement.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were last seen with Princess Kate and Prince William, 41, in September 2022, when the four stepped out for a surprise walkabout in Windsor after the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Prince Harry and Meghan had been in Europe in 2022 for a series of charity events when Queen Elizabeth died at age 96.

The couple subsequently extended their trip from California — where they have lived with kids Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020 — for the late Queen’s funerary events.

Meghan and Harry’s show of support comes after Princess Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in a video message on social media on Friday.

In the video, the Princess of Wales shared that following her abdominal surgery in January, post-operative tests “found cancer had been present,” and she is currently in the “early stages” of treatment.