Stephen Colbert has broken his silence on Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis after he resurfaced rumors that Prince William had an alleged affair with British aristocrat Rose Hanbury.
The “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” host spent two minutes discussing his comments during Monday night’s episode.
“There’s a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy,” he said. “Far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family.”
He added: “Though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at The Late Show, would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.”
On the March 12 episode, Colbert joined in on the internet’s fascination with Middleton’s whereabouts since undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January.
“The Kingdom has been all aflutter about the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton,” Colbert said. “Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband, and the future King of England, William, having an affair.”
“According to tabloids back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it,” Colbert went on. “Always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating.”
Speculation of an affair between the future king and Hanbury began in 2019. Prince William released a statement via a spokesperson at the time, calling the claims “false and highly damaging.”
Following Colbert’s monologue, Hanbury stated via her representation that the rumors “are completely false.” On March 21, one day before Middleton made her cancer diagnosis public, Hanbury’s lawyers revealed they sent a legal notice to Colbert over his comments.
The royal couple have been pals with Hanbury and her husband, David Cholmondeley, for years, with their son Oliver acting as a page of honor at King Charles’s coronation in May 2023.
Colbert’s claim is now under scrutiny as Kensington Palace released a video announcement of the mother of three revealing her cancer diagnosis.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought
that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the
operation found cancer had been present,” Middleton said.
“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.”
Additionally, she praised her husband for sticking by her side during this unexpected obstacle.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to
process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in
order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I
am going to be OK,” Middleton added about the couple’s three kids.
The couple married in 2011 and are parents of Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
“As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that
will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits,” she continued. “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”
