The Princess of Wales shared details of her ‘tough’ cancer battle as she visited the Royal Marsden Hospital where she received treatment to personally thank staff.
She praised them for their “exceptional care, support and compassion over the past year” during the visit on Tuesday morning.
Kate met with four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the hospital in Chelsea, west London.
The surprise official solo engagement - the Princess's first of 2025 - was described by the Palace as an important moment in Kate's "personal journey".
"It's really tough," Kate empathised with one patient who was having chemotherapy. "It's such a shock".
"Everyone said to me please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference," she said, adding that "When I came in everyone said make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on" because of the side effects.
Kate asked patient's details of their treatment, trials, wellbeing, and asked after their families.
"Oh my goodness," she exclaimed on occasion, hearing difficult accounts of long treatment, and shook her head sympathetically.
Of the importance of looking after oneself during and after treatment, she said: "I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight."
When one woman's machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling treatment was needed, she said: "I recognise that beep!"
Hearing about one man's diagnosis, the Princess said: "The body is amazing at telling us 'you need to take time out'."
Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard was having treatment, told the Princess she had "managed the children [George, Charlotte and Louis] so well", making her smile warmly.
A number of the patients opened the conversation by asking how the Princess was feeling. She replied that she was doing well, but recalled the cycle of treatment saying "sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one."
"Sometimes from the outside we all thing you've finished treatment and you go back to things. But it's hard to get back to normal."
She told numerous patients that it was so important to keep "doing the things that give you joy".
"It makes you appreciate all the small things in life that you take for granted," she said of a cancer diagnosis.
As she left, Kate hugged a woman who appeared to be a visitor and looked emotional after they spoke about "patients receiving treatment".
"I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time," the Princess told the woman.
Kate added: "Are you ok? Yes?" then said, smiling: "There is light at the end of that tunnel, very nice to meet you and best of luck.
"You are in the best of hands."
The visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside her husband the Prince of Wales.
The patronage was once held by Diana, Princess of Wales, and William has been its president for many years, but will now serve as co-patron with Kate.
The Princess was said to be looking forward to supporting the Marsden's work in advancing cancer research, treatment and care as well as learning more about how it can benefit patients in the future.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said of the visit: “The Princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world-leading care and treatment the Marsden provides.”
Kate, dressed in a long dark brown tartan coat and burgundy polo neck and skirt, said as she arrived at the hospital's main entrance: "I was just saying, coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it's quite nice."
She also reflected on the challenges faced by families affected by cancer, commenting: “The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.”
Kensington Palace emphasized that the Princess’s return to public-facing engagements remains gradual.
The spokesperson said: “The guidance around the Princess’s return to public-facing engagements hasn’t changed and will continue to be gradual. Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey.”
Prince William did not attend, as this visit was intended for the Princess to independently acknowledge her care experience.
Kate celebrated her 43rd birthday last week, with the Prince of Wales paying a heartfelt public tribute to her as the "most incredible wife and mother", saying "the strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable".
The visit to the Marsden comes two days before the first anniversary of Kate's admittance to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16 2024.
She spent nearly two weeks in hospital after the operation, and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy.
William described 2024 as "brutal" and probably "the hardest year" of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.
In June, the princess, in a candid written message, revealed she was "making good progress" but had "good days and bad days", was "not out of the woods yet" and was facing a few more months of treatment.
In September last year the princess confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed that she, William and their children had faced an "incredibly tough" time.
The spokesperson said: “Her Royal Highness looks forward to supporting the hospital’s work in advancing cancer research, treatment, and care while learning how it can continue to benefit patients in the future.”
The Royal Marsden is a leading cancer research centre in the UK and plays a significant role in advancing cancer treatment both nationally and globally.
