Kate Middleton Recycled a Favorite Sweater for Her Cancer Announcement Video Message

Kate Middleton reached for something familiar to record the video announcing that she is receiving cancer treatment.

The Princess of Wales, 42, shared the "shock" news about her health in a personal video message released on Friday, which was filmed by BBC Studios on Wednesday in the gardens of Windsor Castle. Princess Kate wore a white and black striped sweater that was already in her closet, which fan blogs identified as her $821 Erdem Lotus knit, and paired it with jeans for the emotional announcement. 

The cashmere top, which is no longer available for sale on Erdem’s website, has been in Kate’s royal rotation since at least 2021. That May, she layered it under a blazer for a rainy visit to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland with Prince William, where they met as college students. According to fan site Kate Middleton Style, she picked up another version of Erderm Lotus sweater in navy and white, which she wore to the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in July 2022 with white shorts — a spot-on style for the nautical outing.

In April 2023, the Princess of Wales sported her white Erdem crewneck again for Prince Louis’ fifth birthday portraits. Princess Kate playfully pushed her youngest son in a wheelbarrow in one of the pictures by photographer Millie Pilkington, where she paired the cozy top with dark pants. 

Six months later, she slipped into the same sweater for a meeting of the "Dadvengers," a community for fathers and their children in Arnos Grove, London, highlighting the important role that dads play in their children’s earliest years.

While Princess Kate always makes fashion headlines for her glamorous gown and tiara moments, the sweater set a relatable tone for her health announcement. In the video message, the Princess of Wales sat on a bench before a row of yellow daffodils, a flower used by cancer organizations around the globe as a symbol of hope for those navigating the disease.

In the two-minute and 20-second video, Kate explained that she is undergoing treatment for cancer following "major abdominal surgery" in January. Princess Kate said that post-operative tests "found cancer had been present" and that she is in the "early stages" of a course of preventative chemotherapy, outlining how she and Prince William took time to share the news with their kids Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 and that her husband has been a "great comfort."

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"At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone," Princess Kate concluded the address, which a palace source told PEOPLE she "wrote every word herself."

"She wrote the words herself, delivered it personally and wanted to decide when the time was right to hit the world with this news," adds a family friend.