Kate Middleton announced she had cancer in March 2024 and battled the disease for the better part of the year. Although the Princess of Wales had the support of her immediate family and the world’s good wishes, there was one silent hero in her journey who reportedly helped her during some of her most trying times.

Kate Middleton relied on the support of an unlikely hero during her health battle

James Middleton, Kate Middleton’s brother, shared a story with Hello! Magazine of the silent hero whom he believes helped his sister during her cancer treatment. James is the younger brother of the Princess of Wales.

Kate’s younger brother has been open about his mental health difficulties. He credits his dog, Ella, with getting him through this dark phase of life.

In the past decade, James gifted two dogs to Kate: Lupo and Orla. James believes that Orla helped his sister when she needed support the most.

He told Hello! he believes the Cocker Spaniel supported Kate as she battled cancer. James said, “I know how much the dogs, for me, have helped in taking your mind off something. So I’m certain that for them, Orla is doing her job in supporting her family.”

He added: “That was the experience I had through my challenges. I certainly feel like it’s something that her [Catherine’s] family and our family are doing, too.”

Orla was featured in the Princess of Wales’s video message confirming that she had finished chemotherapy. At the beginning of the clip, the cocker spaniel runs alongside the royal couple and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

How many dogs have Kate Middleton and Prince William had?

Kate Middleton and Prince William have had two dogs since their 2011 wedding. James Middleton bred both.

James bred a litter of puppies in 2011. Lupo came from that litter and was gifted to Kate by her brother in 2012 when Prince William, then an RAF search-and-rescue pilot, was deployed to the Falklands.

In November 2020, Kate and William announced that Lupo had died; he was 9 years old.

The couple shared a post on social media about the sad news. “Very sadly, last weekend, our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years, and we will miss him so much. – W & C.”

James Middleton, Kate’s brother, also paid tribute to the couple’s loss with an Instagram post. He wrote, “For those who have never had a dog, it might be hard to understand the loss. However for, those who have loved a dog know the truth: a dog is not just a pet; it is a member of the family, a best friend, a loyal companion, a teacher, and a therapist.”

Therefore, Kate was on the receiving end of the support a dog can give during trying times throughout her healing journey. Now that she’s finished cancer treatment, when will she return to work full-time?

Kate Middleton has finished chemotherapy; What’s next for the Princess of Wales?

Kate Middleton appears at Wimbledon in July 2024 | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Kate Middleton announced on Sept. 9, 2024, that she had finished a course of chemotherapy. The Princess of Wales revealed she had an undisclosed type of cancer in March 2024. Her announcement came six weeks after Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles also had the disease.

While the palace has not shared when Kate Middleton will return as a frontline royal, she has been reportedly working behind the scenes on projects she has been long connected to. The royal family has not revealed those details.

Kate made two public appearances in 2024, the first at Trooping the Color in mid-June. The second at Wimbledon on July 14.

As the holiday season approaches, royal watchers wonder if the princess will helm her annual Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. They also look forward to her joining members of the royal family for their annual Christmas Day walk from church.