News Update: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle run the risk of “forever” losing their connection with Kate Middleton…

Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reached out to the Prince and Princess of Wales following the announcement of Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.

Kensington Palace has not commented, but the contact is understood to have been made privately. Earlier Prince Harry and Meghan said they wished “health and healing” for Catherine. And they called for her and her family to heal “privately and in peace”.

Catherine said on Friday the news had been a “huge shock”. In a short video message, she said it had been an “incredibly tough couple of months” but she was feeling “well” and “getting stronger every day”. Details of the cancer have not been disclosed. Kensington Palace says the princess is confident that she will make a full recovery.

Catherine had abdominal surgery in January, but it was not known then there was any cancer. Subsequent tests revealed cancer had been present Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in January 2020. They moved to California that June, saying they wanted space to raise their son, Archie.

A second child, Lilibet, was born the following year. King Charles has also recently been diagnosed with cancer, and Harry flew to London in early February to see his father a day after he began treatment. He did not meet his brother during the trip.

In an interview afterwards with ABC News, Harry said he was “grateful” for the brief time with his father in London. He also agreed families could be brought closer by such health concerns.

US President Joe Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said Catherine’s news was “terrible” and the White House wished the British royal a full recovery. “I think it’s important that we respect their privacy, especially at this time,” she said. “I’m not going to go further than that.”