Public support has been pouring in for the Princess of Wales after she announced her treatment for cancer.
In a video statement released on Friday evening, Catherine described her diagnosis as a “huge shock”.
She said she has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy, after tests revealed the cancer following abdominal surgery in January.
In Windsor, where the princess lives with her family, people have expressed sadness and sympathy for the royal.
On the Long Walk, Jean Hood said: “I think it is incredibly sad and my heart goes out to her and the family.”
Ms Hood has lived in the historic town for 40 years and told the BBC the story resonated with her because her mother had cancer.
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“My mother passed away when I was 12,” she explained, adding: “Hopefully for Kate she will be absolutely fine and she will recover well and go on to live a long and happy life with her family.
“I just think of the children at this time and my heart goes out to them.”
The Princess of Wales has faced intense public speculation and a social media frenzy about her health since she underwent major surgery in January.
“Social media has a lot to answer for,” said Ms Hood.
Edward Bailey said he follows the Royal Family on Instagram and saw Catherine’s video statement there.
He said he thought it was “very sad in that situation that she had to come out and say it so soon”, adding: “When really she just wanted to keep it private for a longer period.”
He added that he had been “fortunate” to meet Catherine last summer at King Charles’ coronation party, when she came down to the Long Walk.
The Windsor resident said he thought “conspiracy theories that have been going around” were “quite sad” and “brought an extra layer of empathy for her – and the family”.
Rachel Vallencourt, arrived in Windsor on Saturday morning after travelling to the UK from Boston, in the US.
Describing herself as an “avid royal watcher”, she said: “[It’s] very surreal and very sad for Kate and the whole family.
“I can only imagine what they’re all going through and, having two young kids myself, I don’t know how she’s able to have those conversations.”
She added that it was “lovely” to hear the Princess of Wales sounding positive in her video statement.
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Sharon, who also lives in the Berkshire town, said she “just felt very sad for her because she is going through all of this in the glare of the public”, adding: “It must be very, very difficult for her.
“When you’ve got somebody in your family that is going through cancer, you’ve got to think about how you’re going to tell everybody else.
“It’s nothing to do with any of the public, her children are the number one priority and she had to think of them before she thought about what anybody else needs to know.”
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