Kate says her cancer is in remission, thanks hospital staff for treatment
- 14 Jan 2025
The Princess of Wales revealed Tuesday that her cancer is in remission after an emotional visit to the hospital where she received treatment last year.
In a statement on social media, the princess offered her heartfelt thanks to those who helped her and husband Prince William navigate the treatment. She described her time as a patient as being "exceptional.''
"It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,'' she wrote. "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.'' It was the first time the princess had offered any detail on her diagnosis.
Earlier, she had simply said she had completed her chemotherapy, without offering any information on her prognosis for the future.
Kate, as she is commonly known, conducted the solo engagement at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, a world-leading state-of-the art cancer center known for its pioneering research.
She expressed her gratitude to the medical team for their support even as she spoke with other patients receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy. "It's really tough,'' she said of chemotherapy. "It's such a shock."
On her first solo trip since returning to official duties, Kate paid a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London where she herself had undergone treatment which concluded in September.
She met patients and staff and spoke of the care she had received at the hospital, with the trip also marking an announcement that she has become joint patron of the specialist cancer unit with her husband, the heir to the throne Prince William.
She told one patient the impact on her family had been "really, really tough."
During the visit, the princess shared her experiences with Katherine Field, 45. Gesturing to her arm and chest, she discussed the port mechanism used to deliver the drugs. "I got so attached to it," Kate said, joking that she had been almost reluctant when told that she "you can have it taken out" now.
Her Kensington Palace office stressed that she would continue to return to public-facing engagements, albeit gradually. The palace described the visit as reflecting her "own personal cancer journey.''
The royal family was hard hit by health concerns last year, beginning with the announcement in January 2024 that the king would receive treatment for an enlarged prostate and Kate could undergo abdominal surgery.
"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," a Kensington Palace spokesman said.
In highly personal video messages, Kate has spoken of how hard her illness had been on her, William and their three young children, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Princes George, 11, and Louis, 6.
"The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you," she said in an update to mark the end of her chemotherapy course.
Last year saw a traumatic 12 months for the royal family with King Charles also undergoing treatment for cancer.
A Buckingham Palace source has said his treatment was moving in a positive direction and would continue this year. She announced in September that she had completed chemotherapy.
Agencies