KATE'S EMPATHY
Emotional Princess Kate gives hugs & says ‘there’s light at the end of the tunnel’ as she visits cancer patients
Watch as Kate comforts patients and their families in her first solo engagement since 2023
THE Princess of Wales gave a hug to a mum who revealed her teenage daughter is receiving cancer treatment, telling her: "There's light at the end of the tunnel."
Kate, 43, made an emotional solo trip to Royal Marsden Hospital today to thank the heroes who cared for her during her health battle.
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Mum-of-three Kate has now finished her chemotherapy and met health carers to personally “show her gratitude” to staff who treated her.
On the way out she gave a hug to Tina Adumou who told her her 19-year-old daughter is in hospital receiving treatment.
Putting an arm around her, Kate asked questions and reassured her that she was in the best possible place.
She added: "I wish I could do more. It will get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel."
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"Best of luck. You are in the best hands".
During her hour-long visit to the NHS hospital in west London - the world's first hospital to have a dedicated cancer centre - the princess also met four patients going through similar treatment.
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."
Her emotional return to the hospital is her first solo engagement since December 2023 - weeks before she fell ill.
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In one deeply personal conversation Kate said how her experience has been “really, really tough”.
The Princess of Wales said: “The treatments are so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.
Princess Kate Middleton looks in 'amazing health' as she surprises patients with surprise solo visit to cancer hospital
"You think treatment’s finished, I'll crack on with that and my daily tasks, but that’s still like a real challenge.
"And understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long term side effects."
When Kate is told: “I think you’ve managed the children amazingly”, she replied “oh that’s kind.”
Speaking to a male patient she spoke of the "resilience" needed, adding “first of all, a small taster of what you’ve gone through….it’s to keep coming back”.
The man replied "well, yeah, still here" with a beaming Kate hailing his “positive” attitude.
"It's really tough," she told 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," Kate said.
She added "when I came in everyone said make sure you have all your warm things (clothes) on" because of the side effects.
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The Princess asked patients about details of their treatment, trials, wellbeing, and asked after their families.
"Oh my goodness," she said, shaking her head, as she heard accounts of difficult, long treatment.
Of the importance of looking after yourself during and after treatment, Kate 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, the princess remarked: "I recognise that beep."
Hearing about one man’s diagnosis, the Princess of Wales said: “The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out’.”
Asked how she was feeling, Kate 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 think you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things. But it’s hard to get back to normal.”
Expert comment from Arthur Edwards, Sun royal photographer
By Arthur Edwards, Sun royal photographer
NOT wishing to sound like Mystic Meg but when I saw Catherine on Christmas Day I thought that she was over her cancer treatment and predicted she would soon be back at work.
And how like Kate that on her first solo engagement after remission, that she went back to the hospital where she had her cancer treatment in complete secrecy.
She wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the staff but most important to chat to the patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Catherine gave them not just sympathy but empathy too.
The Princess’s presence on the wards was so encouraging and sent the message ‘I went through this just like you, and you can overcome it, too’.
There were a couple of touching moments. Kate had her hand on the knee of woman patient, looking straight into her eyes, and the lady was laughing.
In another picture, Catherine had her hand to her chest, full of compassion and understanding.
It wasn't long ago that Kate was the one sitting there in cold cap to stop losing her hair being treated by the wonderful staff.
When you get the all-clear from cancer it is only natural to want to return and say thanks – just like the King did last April when his first engagement after treatment was to University College Hospital.
The message I got looking at these wonderful pictures of Kate is that this is a woman who wants to give back some of the kindness that she received herself.
It is significant that both Catherine and William have decided to become patrons at the Royal Marsden Hospital - which is a true 'thank you' from the heart.
She told several patients 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.
Speaking of receiving a diagnosis, she said: “It’s the uncertainty of that initial diagnosis. It’s such a wealth of information.
"Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside in the home setting, is so important.”
Of the wider impact of treatment on patients, the princess added: “You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge.
"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.”
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “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's trip comes almost exactly a year after she was taken to The London Clinic for abdominal surgery and later found out she had cancer.
Kate and William are also today announced as Joint Patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning, and are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in becoming Joint Patrons of our specialist cancer centre.
"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."
EMOTIONAL STATEMENT
Kate revealed last March in an emotional video statement that she had cancer - just weeks after the King shared his diagnosis.
Although she appeared at Wimbledon tennis finals last summer with Charlotte this is her first solo appearance for more than a year.
Last week The Sun revealed Kate planned a "gradual return" to front-line duties with royal fans warned not to expect the same "volume of work" as before her health crisis.
Although speaking in South Africa in November William said the couple had "trips" planned in the New Year it is understood foreign tours for Kate are currently "off the table".
But the princess will be seen "up and down the country" with her work in Early Years being the "golden thread" of her engagements this year.
The hospital opened its doors in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London.
Prince William has held the role of President of The Royal Marsden since 2007; a position which was previously held by his mother Princess Diana.
Wills most recently visited The Royal Marsden to open their Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton in June 2023.
Kate's poignant visit
By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
The Princess of Wales's visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank staff who cared for her last year is a poignant way of closing the door on a 'brutal' period of her life and looking forward with optimism.
But spending time sharing experiences with other patients undergoing cancer treatment says that she is committed to words she spoke in March last year announcing her diagnosis when she told others dealing with the disease 'you are not alone'.
And today, alongside William, she has become patron of the NHS Foundation, proving these are not empty words.
Although it is always welcome to see the princess at royal engagements this visit is part of a gradual return and does not herald a return to the volume of work we saw before her illness.
This was a pilgrimage to her old hospital as part of her personal journey to help reflect on everything that has happened over the past 12 months.
Arriving at the cancer centre she remarked on the novelty of walking in through the front entrance of the hospital. She has visited the hospital many times during her chemotherapy but without cameras in tow.
She wanted to use her enormous presence and fame to shine a light on the work that the hospital does and show her "gratitude" to the "incredible team" and highlight the world leading care.
But the hour-long visit achieved more than this as patients - some undergoing the same treatment as Kate - had a morale-boosting visit from the princess who was able to share experiences, fears and hopes.
She sat with patients and spoke about their diagnosis and care while engrossed in everything they had to say and willing to chip in with her own thoughts and stories from her treatment.
We have seen the princess gradually return to work appearing at Trooping the Colour, Wimbledon, Remembrance Sunday and her Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
But in visiting the cancer centre where she was treated the princess can now draw a line under 2024 - but to never forget its impact on her life.
Speaking in September, Kate described the cancer as "incredibly tough for us as a family" and described her journey "complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone".
And these are thoughts that everyone she met today no doubt shares.
But as Kate said "out of darkness, can come light", and by visiting the Royal Marsden to speak to staff and patients she is proof of those words.
In the past 12 months Kate has been largely out of the public eye after having abdominal surgery last January followed by treatment for cancer.
Kate celebrated her 43rd birthday last week surrounded by family, including hubby Prince William, 42, and their children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis.
In September, Kate announced that she had finished her chemotherapy treatment and is focusing on remaining cancer-free.
She said she was "looking forward" to being back at work and taking on a few more public engagements in the coming months.
William previously revealed Kate aims to step up her royal engagements in 2025.
He said: "I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so, we'll have some more trips maybe lined up."
Since her health scare, Kate has only been on public engagements in London, including Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday, her carol concert, Wimbledon tennis and the Qatari State Visit.
But she did join William to meet emergency service heroes in Southport after three little girls were stabbed to death there in July last year.
And more appearances could now be on the cards in 2025 following her return.
The Princess of Wales is expected to be in attendance at this year’s Bafta Awards on February 16, after skipping last year’s due to her health.
Last month, the Princess of Wales hosted her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
She was also seen on Christmas Day with the rest of the royal family at Sandringham as they headed to church.
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It comes after the Prince of Wales delivered a poignant 43rd birthday message to his wife last week.
William dedicated his post to "the most incredible wife and mother", following her year undergoing preventative cancer treatment.
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Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery
JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent abdominal surgery
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate's bedside
JAN 23: The princess' hospital stay passes one week
JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital
FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to 'personal matter', sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother's Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out 'kill notice' on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the Princess at farm shop near Windsor
Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior
Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis
April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos
June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel's Review but pens letter to Irish Guards revealing: "I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon"
June 15: Kate attends Trooping the Colour alongside her family
July 14: Kate attends the Wimbledon Men's Final with Princess Charlotte
August 11: Kate and William release video congratulating Team GB after the Paris Olympics
August 25: Kate is seen heading to church
September 9: Kate shares moving video revealing she has finished chemotherapy
January 14, 2025: Emotional Kate speaks of her "relief" as she reveals she's in remission.
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