welcome to bbc news. our main news this hour: ukraine and russia have launched missile strikes on one another. ukraine said it struck to micro—lending ships and communication infrastructure used by the black sea fleet of russia in crimea. the bbc is in the process of verifying this attack. this comes following a night of air strikes on ukraine's capital kyiv and the western city of lviv. the mayor of the capital kyiv vitali klitschko said there were several explosions. these images we received show of an explosion of a missile seen

on the kyiv skyline, confirming ukraine's statement that air defence systems repelled much of the attack. in lviv now, close to the polish border, there's been damage to critical infrastructure that city. the polish army have issued a statement saying that they want answers from russia after a missile violated their airspace for under a minute. this missile violated polish airspace. this happened in 2022 when airspace. this happened in 2022 when a missile struck eastern poland close to the ukrainian border. we need to perceive this as a kind of russian provocation. they test us, they test out air defences, they

test our resilience, our determination. this will happen and i'm afraid next time, in a few months there could be casualties because rockets carrying huge warheads, 500 kilos of highly explosive material could lead to tragedies. russia should stop doing that. ~ . , ., , tragedies. russia should stop doing that. . , ., , , that. what is the polish leadership sa inc? that. what is the polish leadership sa in: ? as that. what is the polish leadership saying? as donald _ that. what is the polish leadership saying? as donald tusk— that. what is the polish leadership i saying? as donald tusk commented that. what is the polish leadership - saying? as donald tusk commented on this? it seems as if the violations continue but no action is taken, poland is a nato member. poland is a nato member— poland is a nato member. poland is a nato member and _ poland is a nato member. poland is a nato member and these _ poland is a nato member. poland is a nato member and these violations . nato member and these violations last not long enough to intervene because if the missile went in a noticeable distance in power that it will be struck down by polish fighters but when you have 30 seconds to react the chain of command is too complicated to have a

decision in such a short period. but i believe he will give a statement today, or the ministry of defence. this is a nato territory and nato should also react. poland is not the only country whose airspace is being violated. romania has had the same problem with russian drones that crash in their territory. this is also a dire situation. the question what could we do. there are some proposals to shut down russian missiles in the ukrainian airspace and radar stations detect missiles coming too close to the polish border should have been shut down, that was the proposal. this is a risky scenario. this could lead to escalation. the other problem is that russia is also interested in seeing how our air defence system works, all those electronic signals being emitted are being recorded and tracked and russians are looking for some countermeasures. if we

overreact they will learn too much about our readiness to face such attack which we don't want. it is a consecrated situation.— attack which we don't want. it is a consecrated situation. indeed. thank ou for consecrated situation. indeed. thank you for explaining — consecrated situation. indeed. thank you for explaining to _ consecrated situation. indeed. thank you for explaining to us. _ consecrated situation. indeed. thank you for explaining to us. -- - you for explaining to us. —— complicated situation. i know that you monitor the region and the war in ukraine at the moment is high on the agenda. what can you tell us about the attack on sevastopol? the ob'ective about the attack on sevastopol? tue: objective of about the attack on sevastopol? tte: objective of that was a military one to destroy two russian ships. there was a military goal in that. the other important thing is keeping morale high, especially in the west. we got used to some messages that ukraine is losing because republicans blocked this aid package from the us to ukraine because 0rban is blocking it in europe and so on and so on. our mood is rather down

and so on. our mood is rather down and ukraine launched a massive attack and crippled military targets on the russian side and have shown they are still ready to win even without american support. they have a stockpile of rockets they know how to use and they know how to target the enemy and inflict serious pain. that happened with the russian black sea fleet, it was a disaster for russia to lose a fleet. it never happened before. we need to perceive that would happen. yesterday in sevastopol was a kind of pr campaign to show the western allies and ukrainian society that there is no doubt that they can defend themselves and they can harm russia and russia cannot stop them.- and russia cannot stop them. russia is observing — and russia cannot stop them. russia is observing a _ and russia cannot stop them. russia is observing a national _ and russia cannot stop them. russia is observing a national day _ and russia cannot stop them. russia is observing a national day of - is observing a national day of mourning for the victims of friday's attack on the concert halljust outside of moscow. we are taking you

live to moscow. this is the site of the attack. as you can see the floral tributes have been growing. the flowers started to be left by russians yesterday in that bank of floral tributes which has been growing over the hours. we know cues have continued to build outside of hospitals as russians go to donate blood for the victims of the massacre. more than 130 people were killed when gunmen stormed the packed auditorium just minutes before a veteran rock band was due on stage. the militant islamist group islamic state have claimed responsibility for the attack. however, president putin has suggested that the four gun men arrested on saturday were actually trying to flee to ukraine and had connections in the country. that claim has been strongly rejected by

president volodymyr zelensky. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has more in the kremlin�*s response. we more in the kremlin's response. we heard more in the kremlin's response. - heard vladimir putin give his tv address yesterday. the president has made no more comment since then. but what's interesting is this, because on the one hand islamic state group has claimed that it carried out the attack. islamic state has released graphic images of the attack. us officials have said they have no doubt to doubt the claim by islamic state. 0n the other hand you have russian officials determined to promote the narrative that somehow in some way ukraine was somehow linked to the attack by providing no evidence for that. we heard vladimir putin in his tv address mention in ukraine suggesting some kind of link, that the government had arrested people who were trying to

go to ukraine border. he said a window had been prepared for them on the ukrainian side to cross the border. that has been completely denied by the ukrainian authorities. but it is notjust vladimir putin. 0ther russian officials and pro—kremlin commentators have been pushing this line that there is some ukrainian link here. i was reading one pro—kremlin youth side this morning, quite astonishing thing is being written. 0ne morning, quite astonishing thing is being written. one thing ijotted down, this commentator had written ukraine must be declared a terrorist state, it is time to destroy the kyiv regime. those guys must die, russia has the resources to do this. and all of that raises the question, what will russian atomic russia do next? will russia try and use what was a devastating attack on friday in moscow to use it as an excuse to launch another escalation in its war in ukraine?— launch another escalation in its war in ukraine? ,, , in ukraine? steve rosenberg there. let's turn our _ in ukraine? steve rosenberg there. let's turn our attention _ in ukraine? steve rosenberg there. let's turn our attention to _ in ukraine? steve rosenberg there. let's turn our attention to uk - let's turn our attention to uk politics now. in the last few hours

the bbc�*s laura kuenssberg has been speaking to the chancellorjeremy hunt answering questions about his budget that he delivered earlier this month. 0ur westminster correspondent georgia roberts has more. ~ , , ~' more. the prime minister this week has been talking _ more. the prime minister this week has been talking about _ more. the prime minister this week has been talking about this - more. the prime minister this week has been talking about this being i more. the prime minister this week has been talking about this being a | has been talking about this being a bounce back a year for the has been talking about this being a bounce back a yearfor the uk economy andjeremy bounce back a yearfor the uk economy and jeremy hunt the chancellor today also keen to try and capitalise on some bright spots perhaps in the economic change in weather we have coming. this week we heard news of inflation falling to the lowest it has been in a couple of years, also a bank of england report saying interest rate cuts might come a bit sooner than expected. so this is good news, especially for a uk government that has been lagging behind consistently labour in the polls, they are keen to stress some economic good news. however, the question laura kuenssberg on the programme this morning wanted to ask is whether it is too soon for the uk government to be trumpeting news like this as a turning point, given that many people are still feeling the pinch

in their pockets. let's listen to the chancellor now answering laura kuenssberg's questions on the economy. kuenssberg's questions on the econom . ,, . kuenssberg's questions on the econom. ,, . ::':: kuenssberg's questions on the econom . ,, . if f, ., " kuenssberg's questions on the econom . ,, . ::':: ., ~ ., economy. since 2010, we talked about this before, economy. since 2010, we talked about this before. we — economy. since 2010, we talked about this before, we have _ economy. since 2010, we talked about this before, we have grown _ economy. since 2010, we talked about this before, we have grown faster - this before, we have grown faster than countries like germany but in the last_ than countries like germany but in the last three years we had a once in a century— the last three years we had a once in a century pandemic, we had a 19705— in a century pandemic, we had a 19705 style _ in a century pandemic, we had a 19705 style energy shock, and in a century pandemic, we had a 19705 5tyle energy shock, and what they have _ 19705 5tyle energy shock, and what they have seen from this conservative government is that we have taken — conservative government is that we have taken the really difficult decisions. i think the first time i spoke _ deci5ion5. i think the first time i spoke to— decisions. i think the first time i spoke to you, the first interview i gave _ 5poke to you, the first interview i gave after— 5poke to you, the first interview i gave after i— spoke to you, the first interview i gave after i became chancellor i had to put _ gave after i became chancellor i had to put taxe5 up, very difficult for a conservative chancellor. i had to cut a conservative chancellor. i had to out back _ a conservative chancellor. i had to cut back public spending plans, and there _ cut back public spending plans, and there is— cut back public spending plans, and there is very difficult decisions, what _ there is very difficult decisions, what they— there is very difficult decisions, what they expect from a conservative government, we can now see they are hearing _ government, we can now see they are bearing fruit. _ government, we can now see they are bearing fruit-— bearing fruit. now, the triple-lock is a commitment _ bearing fruit. now, the triple-lock is a commitment to _ bearing fruit. now, the triple-lock is a commitment to raise - bearing fruit. now, the triple-lock is a commitment to raise state - is a commitment to raise state pensions every year by the level of average earnings. laura kuenssberg asked the chancellor given previously it has been reported this is under review as a policy, whether or not he was committed to that, and

for the first time the chancellor committed to this being in the conservative manifesto if they win the next general election. he said the next general election. he said the government was committed still to keeping it in place. t can to keeping it in place. i can confirm _ to keeping it in place. i can confirm it— to keeping it in place. i can confirm it will _ to keeping it in place. i can confirm it will be, - to keeping it in place. i can confirm it will be, yes. - to keeping it in place. i can - confirm it will be, yes. there is two _ confirm it will be, yes. there is two very— confirm it will be, yes. there is two very important things i would say about— two very important things i would say about that. when we came to office _ say about that. when we came to office in— say about that. when we came to office in 2010 pensioners were more likely— office in 2010 pensioners were more likely to _ office in 2010 pensioners were more likely to he — office in 2010 pensioners were more likely to be in poverty than other income _ likely to be in poverty than other income groups now because of the triple-lock— income groups now because of the triple—lock we introduced they are less likely— triple—lock we introduced they are less likely to be in poverty and thats— less likely to be in poverty and that's a — less likely to be in poverty and that's a very important social change _ that's a very important social change. unlike adults of working age. _ change. unlike adults of working age, pensioners can't work. they have _ age, pensioners can't work. they have retired. and so we need to respect — have retired. and so we need to respect that. but the second thing i would _ respect that. but the second thing i would say— respect that. but the second thing i would say is that is an expensive commitment. it would say is that is an expensive commitment-— would say is that is an expensive commitment. , ., , , , commitment. it is a very expensive commitment _ commitment. it is a very expensive commitment. indeed. _ commitment. it is a very expensive commitment. indeed. and - commitment. it is a very expensive commitment. indeed. and you - commitment. it is a very expensive commitment. indeed. and you can | commitment. it is a very expensive - commitment. indeed. and you can only make that commitment _ commitment. indeed. and you can only make that commitment if _ commitment. indeed. and you can only make that commitment if you - commitment. indeed. and you can only make that commitment if you are - make that commitment if you are confident— make that commitment if you are confident that you are going to delivor— confident that you are going to deliver the economic growth that is going _ deliver the economic growth that is going to _ deliver the economic growth that is going to pay for it. labour's partyje anneliese dodds was also asked about what labour's plans would be for the triple—lock

and she would only say they would set out their plans in detail in due course. a message from the chancellorjeremy hunt to say things were looking up economically today. but the economy is not out of the woods just yet. and as we approach not only a general election but local elections in england on the 2nd of may, we can expect the economy to remain in the spotlight. israel's defence minister is heading to washington as israel comes under increasing pressure from the us to halt its planned assault on the rafah district in southern gaza. the hamas run health ministry has said 19 people waiting for aid near gaza city have been killed by israeli forces who have denied firing on the crowd. the un secretary—general antonio guterres visited gaza on saturday calling for a ceasefire — and demanding israel give "total, unfettered" access to humanitarian

goods throughout the territory. earlier, i spoke to our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. so, the top israeli negotiators have come back now, we understand, from doha. we've heard from an israeli official that there was a bridging proposal — that's how it was termed — that was made by the us, which is helping to mediate here along with qatar and egypt. this basically laying out a kind of formula for the number of palestinian prisoners that would be released from israeli jails in return for each israeli hostage that could be released as a result of this potential deal. it's not a very positive sign that top negotiators have come back. it means that they're not close to sealing a deal at the moment. we're not hearing about any breakthrough. and there's a senior palestinian official who is close to the talks who has said that there are still deep differences between the two sides, the main one of course being that hamas wants a complete withdrawal of israeli troops,

it wants to pave the way with any deal to an end to the war in gaza. israel remains adamant that it must completely dismantle hamas in gaza and has said that what's being talked about is only a temporary ceasefire. and then we have a number of delegations heading to washington, dc. yoav gallant is going to be speaking to mr austin. but also a second israeli team heading to washington, dc. what's on that agenda? i mean, this all comes after the visit of the us secretary of state, antony blinken, last week, and certainly it's a big ongoing effort by the us here to reach out to those in the israeli government it feels it can talk to. they include the defence minister, who we understand will also be talking about us military help that's needed for the ongoing war in gaza. but there's pressure being exerted by washington to try to stop israel from going ahead with what it says it plans to do, to have a major military offensive in rafah,

in the very south of the gaza strip. and certainly one of the close advisers of the israeli prime minister will be among those going to meet different officials in washington. washington said it cannot support such an operation because you have such dire humanitarian consequences that could result — real harm to civilians. you now have something like 1.5 million people out of the total 2.3 million in the gaza strip, all crammed down on the border with egypt — most of them displaced by the fighting. they'd been told by israel earlier in this war to head in that direction for their own safety. israel maintains that there are hamas battalions there that it must deal with. that was yolande knell. we are going to catch up with the sport and i'm very excited about the sporting news coming from down under. thank you. we are going to start

down under with the australian grand prix. max verstappen's bid to win a record—equalling tenth successive f1 race went up in smoke as ferrari's carlos sainz completed a remarkable comeback to win the australian grand prix. a fortnight after having his appendix removed. sainz started alongside world champion verstappen who was on pole. but the dutchman handed him the lead after having to retire his red bull with brake problems. the race finished under safety car conditions after britain's george russell crashed his mercedes at the end. he was unhurt. sainz claimed victory ahead of his team mate charles leclerc, with the mclaren of britain's lando norris completing the podium. very happy, very proud of the team, very happy to be in a one—two with charles here. it shows that hard work pays off and life sometimes is crazy, you know. what happened at the beginning of the year and then the podium in bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win,

it's a roller—coaster but i loved it and i'm extremely happy. next to tennis. let's go to tennis now, and aryna sabalenka is out of the miami 0pen. it has been a difficult week for her. she was beaten by ukraine's anhelina kalinina. but in the men's singles, number one seed carlos alcaraz will play gael monfis next after beating fellow spaniard roberto carballes baena in straight sets. hejust won the he just won the title at indian wells. he cruised through but said afterwards it felt like a gruelling affair. and it wasn't as easy as it sounds. it was difficult with the humidity. you know, the court, the bulls, everything, it was difficult to adapt my game to these conditions.

but really happy with the level that i hit the ball, that i solved everything and hopefully keep going. a remarkable collapse from england handed new zealand a dramatic three—run victory in the third t20 as the hosts kept the series alive in nelson. england were cruising in pursuit of 156, needing only 29 runs from 29 balls with eight wickets left, but england lost 6—25. that left them needing eight from the last over but scored just four and lost two wickets. england lead the series 2—1 ahead of the fourth match in wellington on wednesday in this five match series. credit to them. i think we got put under a of pressure and today maybe didn't come up well against it. but i think that's a big learning curve. this team is always about learning opportunities and it's all right to make mistakes but we have to learn from them. i guess it is one to learn from big time.

the opening weekend of the women's six nations continues later. there were wins for france and scotland on the opening day, while england, who are away at italy in a few hours time, want to win the title for a sixth year in a row. captain marlee packer is set for her 100th cap for the red roses — and says the team is hungrier than ever for success. the goal for this six nations is to go out there and win it, like, a grand slam win. but we need to make sure that, you know, we perform in each game. and it's notjust about the points on the board. it's how we come off as players, like, we have targets within defence or attack that we want to hit in those games. that's what i think us as red roses will be defined whether this six nations has been successful or not for us. there is more build—up on the bbc sport website but that is all your support for now. thank you very much indeed. i'm going to take you straight to cairo because the un secretary—general is

meeting with the foreign minister, the egyptian foreign minister and they've been discussing major issues in the region. let's listen in. we were expecting an english translation. as soon as we have got that we will bring it to you. to bring you some context, that is antonio guterres, the un secretary—general speaking at a press conference with the egyptian foreign minister sameh shoukry. and antonio guterres has been in the region on a visit yesterday to the rafah border crossing. let's listen back in. punishment of the palestinian people. i want to recognise the vital political and humanitarian role of egypt. el arish airport and the rafah crossing are essential

arteries for life—saving aid into gaza. but those arteries are clogged. 0n gaza. but those arteries are clogged. on one side of the border there are blocked humanitarian trucks as far as the eye can see. 0n the other we have a real—time humanitarian catastrophe stretching even further. looking at gaza, it almost appears that the four horseman of war, famine, conquest and death are galloping across it. that is why the time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is now and in ramadan's spirit of compassion i also urge the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. the suffering must end. palestinians in gaza desperately need what has been promised. a flood of aid. not trickles, not drops. some progress has been made but much more needs to be done. making that

happen makes very practical steps. it requires israel removing the remaining obstacles and shock points to relief. it requires more crossings and access points. all alternative routes are of course welcome. but only efficient and effective ways to move heavy goods is by road. it requires an exponential increase in commercial goods. and i repeat, it requires an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. the current horrors in gaza serve no one and they are having an impact around the globe. the daily assault on the human dignity of palestinians is creating a crisis of credibility for the international community. it is challenging the values we proclaim as universal, challenging international law, challenging core humanitarian principles, it is challenging our basic humanity. ladies and gentlemen of the media,

we face trials and tests on many fronts. yesterday evening as i mentioned i had the honour of breaking the fast at an iftar with the refugees who fled from the conflict in sudan. i was deeply moved by their heartbreaking stories of unspeakable suffering and perilous journeys, of unspeakable suffering and perilousjourneys, and of unspeakable suffering and perilous journeys, and was also profoundly inspired by their enormous resilience. it is outrageous to see the war raging during the holy month of ramadan despite global appeals for a ceasefire. since the war erupted in sudan a year ago, egypt has generously welcomed more than 500,000 sudanese refugees, and i know you have already 5 million other ones. i thank egypt for hosting these in so many other vulnerable migrants and refugees and urge the international community to step up its efforts for egypt cosmic

efforts. and i also want to take this opportunity to urge all countries to ensure the integrity of the international protection regime of refugees and the rights of all persons on the move.— persons on the move. antonio guterres speaking _ persons on the move. antonio guterres speaking in - persons on the move. antonio guterres speaking in cairo - persons on the move. antonio guterres speaking in cairo in l persons on the move. antonio - guterres speaking in cairo in egypt. he's been in the country now for two days. yesterday on saturday he visited the rafah crossing on the border with gaza, repeating his call for an end to this humanitarian catastrophe. painting a very stark picture on either side of the gaza egypt border and praising the vital role of egypt in this crisis. we need a flood of aid, not trickles and drops, practical steps need to be taken to remove the obstacles to aid. an assault on the dignity of elliston ince, mr gudzius said. and challenging basic humanity —— antonio guterres. he broke iftar on saturday night with refugees who had fled gaza. butjust to put this into

context with you, israel's top diplomat has accused the un of being anti—israel. more coming up here on bbc news. hello there. it was a chilly start again today for many areas but with the winds turning lighter today and more sunshine around, fewer showers, it should feel warmer as we head into the afternoon. still a cool breeze across northern and eastern scotland and eastern england, areas closer to the low pressure. further west, showers fading and the winds lighter because of high pressure moving in ahead of rain which will arrive in the west overnight. quite a chilly feel out there across northern and eastern parts of the country with the stronger northerly lighter winds in the west with fewer showers, most of them across the east of the country, some of the wintry

across the scottish hills. but through the afternoon temperatures reaching 12 or 13 degrees in the south, feeling quite pleasant. with lighter winds and strong sunshine overhead. this evening and overnight cloud and rain pitching in to the west, the winds picking up so temperatures recovering here but a chilly night across northern and eastern scotland, eastern england, some frost in places and maybe some mist and fog, temperatures 7—9 degrees by the end of the night. this area of low pressure in the west on monday, we will see wetter and windier weather, further north and east it will be drier, still quite chilly across northern scotland with some wintry showers and the rain pushes northwards into the colder air we are likely to see significant snow falling over the mountains. good spells of sunshine in the midlands, southern and eastern england,

reaching 12 degrees. chilly across the north, not feeling pleasant in the west because of the cloud and rain. thing is not getting better through the week even in the run—up to easter. low pressure in charge, bringing bands of rain, fairly strong winds at times, sunshine and showers, not raining all the time and earlier in the week with cold air looming across scotland we will see hill snow at times. but you'll notice towards the end of the week slightly milder air moving from the south. an unsettled week with some hill snow across scotland. towards the end of the week into easter weekend slowly recovering temperatures.

this is bbc news. ukraine claims to have hit two russian ships and other key infrastructure used by russia's black sea fleet in crimea. it comes as russia launches missile strikes on ukraine — poland says one projectile crossed over its territory. a day of mourning in russia after friday's deadly attack on a concert hall near moscow — killed at least 133 people. russia's vladimir putin says all four gunmen involved in the attack have been arrested. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has said protection for pensioners — the triple lock will be in the conservative manifesto. the prince and princess of wales

respond to the public support following catherine's announcement she is being treated for cancer. and hundreds of aproned competitors set to take their mark for the infamous la course des cafes or the waiters run in paris — a tradition that goes back more than 100 years. we'll stay with that story. now, tourists in paris today might find themselves in the unusual position of having to dodge hundreds of waiters and waitresses swarming the streets trying desperately not to spill trays of coffee and croissants. wonder if the race is actually over. we will find out. it is because the infamous la course des cafes returns to the city after a 13—year hiatus. the race, which is over 100 years old, sees servers complete a two—kilometre loop in the city's historic marais area while trying to avoid any spillages. paris stopped hosting the event

in 2008 because of its 100,000 euros cost, but it has been revived in the run—up to the olympics. 0ur paris correspondent, hugh schofield, has more on the historic event. as you say, it is a historic event. in melbourne city or london. i mean, they do happen in other cities, but they're all pale imitations of this one because this was the original, which was started in 1914 and was run every year, you know, for for the next 100 years, more or less, until, as you said a few years ago, when the sponsors pulled out. it was actually set up by a newspaper called lavanya. and there are people who come from the auvergne region of central france. they traditionally and still supply waiters and waitresses. and a lot of them are involved in running the bars and brasserie of paris.

people from this region and this newspaper set up the race back in 1914 to kind of show off the trade and to attract people into the business of being being waiters. and if you look at the old footage on pat and others, you can see on pate and others, you can see regular footage from the �*30s and �*aos of the race taking place with men, only men in those days, running around the city, wearing their sort of formal attire of of apron and black trousers and so on. it ran out because the newspaper ran out of money a few years ago, and now it's being revived by the city this time. and the idea is, i guess, to make it an annual event again. but, of course, the link to the olympics is there in a kind of way, because everything that happens in paris this year is about self—promotion, about showing the city off to its best advantage. and one way of doing that is showing that, yeah, the tradition of hospitality in bars and brasseries is still very much alive here. and this race sort of fits in with all of that. do you know what? i was just looking at those pictures. wonderful, really.

and those early pictures show the waiters with wine on their trays. then we progress through the years and we see soft drinks and water. yes. and now is itjust going to be coffee? i mean, are we all going pc with this as well? it's... well, i mean, there's... what can i say? i mean, it's a breakfast tray. it's a breakfast tray. it's coffee and water and a croissant and, yeah, no more wine. it's just... quelle domage. this is two hours. the other point is that this is sponsored by the water company of paris who wants to promote paris tap water in advance of the olympics and to show off the fact that if you go to any cafe in france, in paris, you can get you could ask for and get a, you know, a carafe of tap water. that's very much part of the experience here. and that's, of course, very ecological and that's

what they're promoting to. that was hugh schofield and i can tell you there is a winner. now on bbc news — we have this special programme on how the princess of wales announced her cancer diagnosis in a special message to the world... from the princess of wales, a deeply personal statement. it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family... her operation injanuary had been successful, said catherine, but there was a problem. it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful. however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present... that meant she was now undergoing chemotherapy. 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. it followed a flood of speculation about her health,

so will that come to an end now, and what next after kate's cancer diagnosis? she is one of the most popular royals, whether hosting events herself or at the side of her husband, the prince of wales, catherine has played an active role as a senior royal since marrying william in 2011. catherine is a hugely popular member of the royal family and she is a very important member of the royal family for that reason. you know, when she steps out looking glamorous, she will be on the front page of every magazine, of every newspaper, and that is important for a royal family that needs to be seen. there are fewer senior members of the royal family out and about and i think part of the reason why this social media frenzy has developed over the last couple of months is because she hasn't been as visible because she has been taking time out for this recovery

and she has been missed.