Harry and Meghan wish 'health and healing' for Kate

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they wish "health and healing" for Catherine, Princess of Wales, after she shared her cancer diagnosis.

In a brief statement, Prince Harry and Meghan said they hope Catherine and her family can heal "privately and in peace".

Catherine said on Friday the news was a "huge shock" after an "incredibly tough couple of months".

She said she was "well" and "getting stronger every day".

Details of the cancer have not yet been disclosed. Kensington Palace says she is confident that she will make a full recovery.

The condition was discovered during an abdominal surgery in January.

Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in January 2020.

They moved to California in June 2020, saying they wanted space to raise their son, Archie. A second child, Lilibet, was born the following year.

After the recent cancer diagnosis of his father, King Charles, Prince Harry visited the UK to meet him.

In an interview afterwards with ABC News, he said he was "grateful" for the time with his father during their brief meeting in London.

He also agreed families could be brought closer by such health concerns.

There could be more visits to the UK, he suggested, saying: "I'll stop in and see my family as much as I can."

Earlier on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the news was "terrible" and that the White House wished Catherine 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."