The Prince of Wales is said to be “extremely proud” of the “courage and strength” shown by Princess Kate following her worldwide announcement on Friday.

Speaking to The Telegraph, royal sources said Prince William is not only proud of his wife’s bravery in opening up about her cancer diagnosis, but also of how she has handled the news since her abdominal surgery in January.

A royal source said: “William is extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week, but since her surgery in January.

“He has always done all he can to protect his family and now more than ever he’s focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared.”

The Princess of Wales received an influx of well wishes from fans after news broke, with world leaders joining in in wishing Kate well.

The Princess delivered her message in a two-minute video filmed in the grounds at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

She is said to have felt duty-bound to share her diagnosis, with King Charles opening up about his just months prior.

“The Princess wrote the statement herself and they are entirely her words,” a source said. The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be “overwhelmed” by the support shown after the video aired.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message. They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”

Prince William is expected to return to duties after spending Easter with Kate and their three children at their Amner Hall home in Norfolk.

The message was carefully timed to be aired once their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – had broken up from school for the Easter break.

Leading cancer charities have also issued messages of support following Kate’s announcement, as cancer survivors praise her for showing bravery.

Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, said: “On behalf of everyone at Cancer Research UK, I wish Her Royal Highness a full, swift recovery and return to good health. During this difficult time, it’s important that the Princess is given the time and space to focus on her treatment and that we respect the family’s privacy.”