During a recent visit to Colchester Hospital in England, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. Throughout her time here, she was candid about her experience with cancer. The Duchess, along with her husband Prince William, spent time talking to cancer patients and facility staff and volunteers. This visit was special and symbolic, representing a milestone in her slow path back to public life.
The 43-year-old Duchess announced her cancer diagnosis publicly in March 2024 and revealed that she was in remission in January of the same year. She was candid during her visit that the recovery path has been far from linear. She painted a bleak picture of the many hurdles faced during the period after treatment.
“It’s life-changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post-treatment and things like that, it is a life-changing experience both for the individual patient but for the families as well,” said Kate Middleton.
The Duchess of Cambridge on the stairs with her three young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. They’ve been an inspiring, upbeat and consistent source of encouragement throughout her health odyssey. She acknowledged the emotional roller coaster that comes after treatment, stating, “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism, through treatment. Treatment’s done, and it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal again,’ but actually that phase afterwards is a really difficult time.”
On a recent visit to Colchester Hospital, she helped to plant peace roses at the new RHS Wellbeing Garden. This collaborative project aims to provide inspirational and therapeutic spaces for patients, families and visitors. Kate stressed the importance of community support to help cancer patients. She shared how resources like creativity, singing and gardening are valuable aspects of their recovery process.
It is often unrecognized, you don’t really… realize how much impact it is actually going to have. You’ve got to discover what your new normal is, and that takes awhile,” she continued.
The Duchess’s visit to Colchester Hospital is one of her first back, continuing her phased return which started in late 2018. During her health journey, she has been actively engaged in advocacy and spreading awareness about the realities of cancer, as well as supporting those who have experienced it.
“It’s a roller coaster. It’s not one smooth plain, which you expect it to be, but the reality is it’s not,” Kate noted.
