:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(2999x0:3001x2)/peo-kate-middleton-running-shorts-tout-8f535a5f54d9468a949cbffa582f1895.jpg?resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "Kate Middleton’s relative reveals shocking health ordeal after praising her remarkable recovery")
Kate’s Family Member Gives Troubling Health Update Amid Her Cancer Recovery: ‘Terribly Sick’
Typically, when it comes to the British royal family, the thing that people are most interested in is the relationships. Who gets along with who, who is fighting with who, and how the dynamics within the family have shifted. But in the last few years, as King Charles and Kate Middleton announced their battles with cancer, there has been renewed interest in the wellbeing of all the members of the family.
Now, Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith has come out to praise his niece after she scaled three of the UK’s highest peaks in 24 hours amid her cancer recovery.
“It takes me back to her childhood when they would go to the Lakes [District],” he told the Daily Mail of her taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge, adding that he was “awestruck.”
“You put on your walking boots and off you go. For Kate, it felt like a return to nature, a return to her childhood,” he added.
The challenge involves climbing the highest summits in Scotland, England and Wales, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, within 24 hours. Middleton completed the challenge in late June, to help raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Goldsmith also revealed his own health issues, which had him close to death in April 2025. He reportedly gave up alcohol and started GLP-1 drug Mounjaro, which led him to lose 85 pounds. However, he took a pause in the medication and ate seafood and cake while on Ibiza for his 60th birthday.
Eight days later, he woke up and felt “terribly sick” and then began “projectile vomiting blood.” He then needed a procedure to tackle some enlarged veins in his esophagus, which the outlet said was the result of liver disease.
“If they hadn’t banded me I would have bled to death,” he said.
This all happened just months after Kate Middleton announced she was in remission from cancer. He emphasized that, despite the stressful moment for Carole Middleton, Kate’s mom and his sister, and the entire family, they were all there for him.
“I’m very conscious that your brother being poorly is one thing. Your daughter suffering with cancer is massive,” he told the outlet, adding, “She weighed in, wanting me to be more mindful of my age, to make sure I was getting enough sleep, eat more healthily.”
Reportedly, Carole recommended he stay active, walk more, drink less, and take supplements. “As she is 10 years older than me. When we were kids, it was like growing up with two mothers. She still has that maternal concern for me,” he told the outlet.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2247555655-469414406830421dbdfb11030ec731f9.jpg)
Kate Middleton Makes Rare Comments About How Cancer Treatment Affected Her Family
Goldsmith has made headlines for other reasons. In November 2017, he appeared in court and admitted to physically assaulting his wife after a night out, per the BBC. Goldsmith was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 20 sessions of rehabilitation, and fined £5,000 (around $6,688), according to Sky News.
Then, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK, which brought his previous arrest to light. “The decision to include a man who has been charged, and pleaded guilty to, assaulting his wife, in the Celebrity Big Brother house demonstrates the lack of awareness that the production team has when it comes to survivors of domestic abuse,” said a statement from a charity looking to end domestic abuse.
Kate Middleton’s relative reveals shocking health ordeal after praising her remarkable recovery
Surgeons performed an emergency procedure
Kate and William share name of new family dog in sweet post marking the spaniel’s first birthday
Kate Middleton’s resilience continues to inspire those closest to her. Just weeks after the Princess of Wales completed one of the United Kingdom’s toughest endurance challenges as part of her cancer recovery journey, her maternal uncle, Gary Goldsmith, has publicly praised her determination while revealing a deeply personal health crisis that nearly claimed his own life.
Goldsmith, 61, told the Daily Mail he was “thrilled” to see his niece complete the National Three Peaks Challenge, admitting he has been “awestruck” by the way she has handled her cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
The Princess of Wales, 44, completed the demanding challenge in late June, climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, within 24 hours.
The expedition raised funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, supporting efforts to expand holistic cancer care across the United Kingdom. The cause holds special meaning for Kate, who received treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital before announcing she was in remission in January 2025.
Gary Goldsmith’s emotional reaction:
Reflecting on Kate’s accomplishment, Goldsmith said watching her embrace the challenge reminded him of her childhood. “It takes me back to her childhood when they would go to the Lakes,” he said.
“You put on your walking boots and off you go. For Kate, it felt like a return to nature, a return to her childhood.” The challenge also marked another milestone in Kate’s gradual return to public life and physically demanding activities following her cancer treatment.
She completed the final stretch alongside her younger brother, James Middleton, while Prince William and their three children were waiting to welcome her at the finish.
Gary Goldsmith reveals his own life-threatening ordeal:
Goldsmith’s admiration for his niece came as he disclosed, for the first time, a medical emergency that nearly cost him his life in April 2025.
After losing approximately 85 pounds while taking the weight-loss medication Mounjaro and making healthier lifestyle choices, Goldsmith traveled to his Ibiza villa to celebrate his 60th birthday. During the trip, he temporarily stopped taking the medication and allowed himself to indulge in celebratory meals.
Eight days later, he woke up feeling violently ill before suddenly vomiting large amounts of blood. He was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors discovered enlarged veins in his esophagus, known as esophageal varices, caused by liver disease.
Surgeons performed an emergency procedure, placing bands around the veins to stop the bleeding. “If they hadn’t banded me I would have bled to death,” Goldsmith recalled. He then spent 48 hours recovering in intensive care before beginning a lengthy recovery.
The Middleton family’s support:
Goldsmith said his daughter, Tallulah, informed his older sister, Carole Middleton, about the emergency. The frightening episode came only months after Kate had shared that she was in remission from cancer, placing enormous emotional strain on the Middleton family.
Despite everything happening at the time, Goldsmith said Carole immediately stepped in to support him. “I’m very conscious that your brother being poorly is one thing. Your daughter suffering with cancer is massive,” he said, explaining that Carole still encouraged him to prioritize his health by getting enough sleep, exercising, eating better and reducing his alcohol intake.
He added that his sister has always looked after him. “As she is 10 years older than me. When we were kids, it was like growing up with two mothers. She still has that maternal concern for me.”
A complicated but affectionate family bond:
Gary Goldsmith, the younger brother of Carole Middleton, has long shared a close bond with the Middleton family.
Carole Middleton has been at the center of her family’s support system, helping both her daughter, Princess Kate, during her cancer recovery and her brother, Gary Goldsmith, following his life-threatening health emergency.
Before Prince William and Kate married, the couple reportedly spent time at Goldsmith’s Ibiza villa, Maison de Bang Bang, in 2006, seeking a more private escape from intense media attention. He later attended both the royal wedding in 2011 and Pippa Middleton’s wedding in 2017.
In recent years, however, Goldsmith has acknowledged that he sees his royal relatives only occasionally and has said it is difficult to get hold of Kate, noting that he usually remains in touch through his sister, Carole.
Carole Middleton and her daughter Pippa Middleton have maintained a close family bond while supporting one another through recent years.
His own public controversies, including a 2009 undercover drug sting, a 2017 assault conviction and his appearance on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2024, have often drawn media attention, particularly during periods of heightened interest in the Princess of Wales.
Despite that, Goldsmith has consistently spoken out in support of his niece, describing her as an inspiration and publicly defending her against criticism. His latest remarks following her Three Peaks Challenge once again highlight the pride he continues to express in her resilience and determination.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(753x271:755x273):format(webp)/cole-the-deaf-dog-112125-1a-ad248101bd174108a795d88d6afd93d8.jpg?resize=750,500&ssl=1 "Elementary School Throws Deaf Therapy Dog a Surprise Birthday Party as Students Learn Sign Language to Sing ‘Happy Birthday’")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/walmart-puppies10-72426-f667858b597b472da871f8f09e73d062.jpg?resize=2000,1333&ssl=1 "5 Puppies Were Found Abandoned in a Bag at a Walmart Parking Lot. They’re Now Looking for Forever Homes (Exclusive)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2192593843-b6f95da898594b62b73e4aebe8eafdbb.jpg?resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "Hoda Kotb Just Opened Up About Finding Love Again After Joel Schiffman Split: ‘I Can Retrieve The Woman Behind The Mother’")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x376:751x378)/richard-gere-101425-7d3b4645395d402781a948173314c068.jpg?resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "Richard Gere hospitalised with pneumonia in Mexico")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/prince-harry-meghan-markle-australia-hospital-visit-3-041326-1b02ae2fb4904774b047a356ae5d71bc.jpg?resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "Meghan Reportedly Pressuring ‘Snobbish’ Harry to ‘Monetize’ His Royal Status Amid Their Reported ‘Fear of Going Bankrupt’")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(874x395:876x397)/kate-middleton-prince-george-072326-aabd1a5fee1f4f279a45600f8001eef1.jpg?resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Strict Rule at Home Is Also Enforced at Prince George’s New School")