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After a very tough 2024, The Princess of Wales is slowly returning to work after her cancer went into remission.
As she goes about her duties, Kate, 43, has been getting candid about the “really difficult” journey she has been on since her diagnosis.
How is Kate Middleton now?
The princess opened up about her “rollercoaster” journey on July 2 while visiting a cancer centre in Colchester in East London.
During the visit, Kate planted some of the new charity Catherine’s Roses that have been named in her honour and spoke to patients and staff.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatment’s done – then it’s like ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,” she said.
“But actually the phase afterwards is really difficult, you’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.
Kate was well supported through her journey by husband Prince WIlliam, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
However, she admitted that having cancer is “life-changing for anyone” and it has taken the group some time to adjust following her treatment.
“Actually it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, appreciate how much impact it is going to have,” she said.
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time… and it’s a rollercoaster it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times.”
The previously unannounced visit was Kate’s first public appearance since she pulled out of attending Royal Ascot last minute on June 18.
However, in the days leading up to her no-show the princess had put in glamourous appearances at Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter procession.
While she might look fine, Ascot serves as an important reminder that Kate is still taking things one day at a time.
Is Kate Middleton in remission?
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” Kate shared on Instagram along with an image of her visiting with a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14.
“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to.”
It was also announced that Kate and her husband, Prince William, have become joint royal patrons of the hospital.
During her emotional her visit, Kate met with staff involved in her treatment to thank them for her care and fellow cancer patients.
“Coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice,” the Daily Mail reported the princess said as she made her way into the hospital.
She also spoke of the toll that chemotherapy had taken on during a chat with staff.
“You think treatment’s finished, crack on with that… daily tasks, but that’s still like a real challenge. And talking… the words totally disappear… understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects,” she said.
The visit came as Catherine slowly continues her return to public duties after taking much of 2024 off to focus on her health and family.
Much of her focus behind the scenes since finishing chemo treatments has been getting back to being fighting fit, with one royal biographer revealing that she has been hitting the gym.
“From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well. She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do,” Robert Jobson told Hello magazine in late 2024.
“I do think that we will start to see a lot more of her, and that she will carry out engagements as well as continuing to work behind the scenes,”
When did Kate Middleton finish her cancer treatment?
After almost a year of speculation while she dealt with serious health issues, the Princess of Wales finally shared some positive news with fans across the globe on September 9.
Kate announced that she has finished chemotherapy and is focusing on staying cancer free with “a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” Kate said in a voice over that accompanied a sweet video giving a candid and unprecedented look at her private home life.
The clip showed Kate and husband Prince William, both 42, lying entwined on a blanket, hugging and kissing their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
It was taken in August as the family enjoyed the kids summer school holidays at their country estate in Norfolk.
Her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were also featured playing cards with the Wales’.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,” Kate said. “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
Kate announced she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in March following an earlier serious abdominal surgery and would be undergoing a course of “preventative chemotherapy”.
She has been well supported during her battle with the disease by William, 41, who put family first as they faced this difficult time.
The prince cut back on his duties to be there for his wife and their kids.
Kate explained that her while her journey had been “complex, scary and unpredictable” it had left the couple with “a new perspective on everything.”
“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved,” she said.
When did Kate return to work?
Kate began a gradual return to work in late 2024.
She had rarely been seen for much of that year, stepping out just a few times to attend Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon Men’s Final.
She stepped up her engagements over the UK winter, attending back to back engagements over the Remembrance Day week and hosting her annual carols service.
While her presence has been sorely missed by wellwishers, in news that has come as a welcome relief to concerned royal watchers, Kate revealed she is looking forward to “undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.”
While she isn’t in a rush to get straight back into full time duties, after stressing her “path to healing and full recovery is long” Kate confirmed she was keen to take on more engagements on an adhoc basis “when I can”.
Kate is expected to continue to attend big ticket events like Trooping in 2025 as well as some smaller engagements, with a focus on her work in early childhood, depending on how she feels.
What type of cancer did Kate have?
The Princess shared in an Instagram video in March, that she had been diagnosed with cancer following her abdominal surgery in January.
Against a backdrop of yellow daffodils in the gardens of Windsor Castle, as she was filmed by the BBC, Kate shared her shock at the discovery.
“It was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” Kate explained after months of speculation regarding her whereabouts as she recovered from the operation..
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Kate has never disclosed the type of cancer she has and has remained largely out of the spotlight as she put her health and family first.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she said.
“But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”
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