Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has confirmed that her cancer is in remission.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” Kate wrote in a statement shared on X. “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. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”
On Tuesday, Kate paid a visit to Royal Marsden Hospital in west London, where she received cancer treatment, reports the BBC. Kate thanked nurses and doctors for their care and spoke with cancer patients in one of her most notable solo royal engagements since announcing her own cancer diagnosis in March.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,” she wrote in a statement made on X. “My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything.”
She continued, “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”
Kate and her husband, Prince William, have become joint patrons of the The Royal Marsden’s specialist cancer center, she said.
“My hope is, that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer,” Kate wrote.
Royal Marsden said it is “excited” to have Kate serve as a joint patron of the special cancer center.
“We are incredibly fortunate to receive Royal Patronage — it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families,” Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement.
Kate’s visit to Royal Marsden hospital
During her visit to Royal Marsden hospital on Tuesday, Kate thanked the staff and exchanged experiences with cancer patients.
“It’s really tough ... It’s such a shock,” Kate told a woman receiving chemotherapy treatments, per the BBC. “Everyone said to me, ‘please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference’.”
“You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge,” she continued.
“The words totally disappear. And understanding that as a patient — yes, there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects.”
Since receiving her own cancer diagnosis, Kate has maintained a low profile and kept royal engagements to a minimum. When she completed her chemotherapy treatments, Kate said via X she looked “forward to being back at work,” noting she would continue to prioritize her recovery.
“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 told the BBC.
While speaking to patients at the hospital, Kate said, “The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out,’” per the BBC.
According to the BBC, when asked how she is doing, Kate said she is well, but noted, “Sometimes from the outside we all think you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things. But it’s hard to get back to normal.”
Kate completed chemo in September
Its been nearly a year since Kate underwent a “planned abdominal surgery,” during which doctors detected her cancer.
Following the operation, the princess removed herself from the public light — sparking months of public speculation and a handful of high-profile conspiracy theories.
In March, Kate announced she had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatments.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London. And at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” she said in a video statement shared on X.
She continued, “As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.”
In September, Kate announced she completed chemotherapy cancer treatments.
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” the princess said in a video message shared on X.
“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”