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US talk show host Stephen Colbert has finally addressed the furious backlash at his jokes about the Princess of Wales, addressing viewers after her cancer diagnosis.

The 59-year-old comedian told his audience on The Late Show on CBS last night that he does ‘not make light of somebody else’s tragedy’ – but did not apologise to Kate.

Colbert accepted that his jokes had ‘upset some people’, adding that he was aware ‘any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family’.

The presenter also said that he and everyone on the programme ‘would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough’.

Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video released last Friday

Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video released last Friday

Stephen Colbert spoke about his Kate jokes during The Late Show on CBS last night

Stephen Colbert spoke about his Kate jokes during The Late Show on CBS last night

In a monologue on last night’s show, he began by saying: ‘You know, folks, I don’t know if you have noticed, but we do a lot of shows and I tell a lot of jokes, and I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mostly what everybody’s talking about.

Stephen Colbert’s full Late Show statement on his jokes about Kate

‘You know, folks, I don’t know if you have noticed, but we do a lot of shows and I tell a lot of jokes, and I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mostly what everybody’s talking about. 

‘And for the last six weeks to two months, everybody has been talking about the mystery of Kate Middleton‘s disappearance from the public life. 

‘We did some jokes about that mystery and all of the reporting about that. And when I made those jokes, that upset some people — even before her diagnosis was revealed, and I can understand that. 

‘I mean, a lot of my jokes have upset people in the past. And I’m sure some of my jokes will upset people in the future. But there is a standard that I try to hold myself to. And that is, I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy.

‘Now, I don’t know whether her prognosis is a tragic one, she is the future Queen of England and I assume she’s going to be getting the best possible medical care, but regardless of what it is, I know and I’m sure many of you, far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family. 

‘And, though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at ‘The Late Show’ would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.’ 

‘And for the last six weeks to two months, everybody has been talking about the mystery of Kate Middleton‘s disappearance from the public life. 

‘We did some jokes about that mystery and all of the reporting about that.’

He said that when he made those jokes, ‘that upset some people, even before her diagnosis was revealed, and I can understand that’.

Colbert added that ‘a lot of my jokes have upset people in the past – and I’m sure some of my jokes will upset people in the future’.

But he continued: ‘There is a standard that I try to hold myself to. And that is, I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy. Now, I don’t know whether her prognosis is a tragic one, she is the future Queen of England and I assume she’s going to be getting the best possible medical care.

‘But regardless of what it is, I know and I’m sure many of you, far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family.

‘And, though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at ‘The Late Show’ would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.’

Kate, 42, revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video message issued by Kensington Palace last Friday evening.

The announcement came after weeks of intense speculation and conspiracy theories on social media around her health and whereabouts.

There has since been a global outpouring of support, including from the King, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Prince Harry and members of the public.

Rumours online about the princess intensified after Prince William missed, at very short notice, the memorial service of his godfather the late King Constantine of Greece at Windsor on February 27.

It is now understood William’s decision not to attend was related to Kate’s condition, but it is not known when the Princess was told about the positive test for cancer.

King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for a Windsor Leadership Trust event this morning

King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for a Windsor Leadership Trust event this morning 

December 25, 2023: Kate was last seen with her family attending church at Sandringham

December 25, 2023: Kate was last seen with her family attending church at Sandringham 

Further speculation was triggered after the princess admitted to ‘editing’ her official Mother’s Day photograph which had irregularities.

A further development saw an investigation launched by the UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, into allegations there were attempts to access Kate’s private medical records at the London Clinic where she had her surgery.

It is not known how long Kate will be receiving treatment but it is understood she may be keen to attend events as and when she feels able to, in line with medical advice, although this will not indicate a return to full-time duties.

William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family, and maintaining his official duties as he has done since her operation.

The Prince is due to return to public duties after his children return to school following the Easter break.

He and his wife will not attend the royal family‘s traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle‘s St George’s Chapel.

Buckingham Palace confirmed today that the King is expected to attend this service with Queen Camilla, but it is not likely to be a large family gathering.

Charles has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February after he was treated for an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where Kate had abdominal surgery.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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