AN EMOTIONAL Kate Middleton spoke of her “relief” when she revealed today that she is in remission after a battle with cancer.
The Princess of Wales (43) visited the Royal Marsden Hospital on her own where she thanked the staff for the “exceptional” care.
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Kate arriving at The Royal Marsden earlier todayCredit: Getty
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Kate talks to a patient during a hospital visit Credit: Reuters
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William shared a never-before-seen picture of the princess in a romantic message to celebrate her birthday Credit: Matt Porteous
Speaking today, she said: “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well over the past year.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who have walked quietly by William and I’s side as we’ve been through it all. We couldn’t have asked for more.
“The care and advice we received during my patient period was exceptional.
In my new role as joint patron of the Royal Marsden, I hope that by supporting ground-breaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting the well-being of patients and families, we can save many more lives and transform experience,” she said. of all cancer patients.
“It’s a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis knows, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.
“However, I am looking forward to a busy year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you all for your continued support.”
Comes as:
- Kate made a surprise appearance at the Royal Marsden Hospital today
- She met the nurses who treated her for cancer and fellow patients
- The 43-year-old hugged patients and said “there is light at the end of the tunnel”
- She said she is “looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead”
A beaming Kate earlier thanked the heroes at The Royal Marsden who looked after her during her health battle.
The mum-of-three has now finished chemotherapy and met with health professionals to “show her gratitude” in person.
Princess Kate Middleton looks ‘amazingly healthy’ as she surprises patients with surprise solo visit to cancer hospital
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Kate opened up about her health battle in last year’s videoCredit: BBC
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A beaming Kate during a hospital visit Credit: PA
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The Princess of Wales spoke to Katherine Field during the visitCredit: PA
Kate’s touching visit
Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
The Princess of Wales’ visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank the staff who cared for her last year is a touching way to close the door on a ‘brutal’ period of her life and look forward with optimism.
But spending time sharing experiences with other cancer patients, she says she is committed to the words she spoke when announcing her diagnosis in March last year when she told others facing the disease ‘you are not alone’.
And today, along with William, she became a patron of the NHS Foundation, proving that these are not empty words.
While it is always welcome to see the Princess on 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 all that had happened over the past 12 months.
Arriving at the cancer center, she noticed the novelty of entering through the main entrance to the hospital. She visited the hospital many times during chemotherapy, but without cameras.
She wanted to use her huge presence and fame to shine a light on the work the hospital does and show her “gratitude” to the “incredible team” and highlight world-leading care.
But the hour-long visit achieved more than that as the patients – some undergoing the same treatment as Kate – had a morale-boosting visit from the princess who could share experiences, fears and hopes.
She sat with patients and discussed their diagnosis and care while being absorbed in everything they had to say and willing to interject her own thoughts and stories from her treatment.
We’ve 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 a visit to the cancer center where she was treated, the princess can now draw a line under 2024 – but never forget its impact on her life.
Speaking in September, Kate described cancer as “incredibly difficult for us as a family” and described her journey as “complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone”.
And these are thoughts that are no doubt shared by everyone she met today.
But as Kate said “out of darkness can come light”, and by visiting the Royal Marsden to speak to staff and patients she is living up to those words.
Kate also asked patients about the details of their treatment, tests, well-being and asked about their families.
On hearing of one man’s diagnosis, the Princess of Wales said: “The body is amazing when it tells us ‘you have to take time’.”
Speaking about getting the diagnosis, she said: “It’s the uncertainty of that initial diagnosis. Such is the wealth of information.
“Understanding the diagnosis, that’s a huge amount of information to take in as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside of the home setting, is really important.”
Kate’s trip came almost exactly a year after she was taken to a London clinic for abdominal surgery and later found out she had cancer.
It comes after the Welsh were also named joint patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust today.
Expert commentary by Arthur Edwards, Sun royal photographer
Arthur Edwards, Sun royal photographer
I do NOT want to sound like Mystic Meg, but when I saw Catherine at Christmas I thought she had finished cancer treatment and predicted she would be back at work soon.
And how did Kate do it on her first solo engagement after remission, that she returned to the hospital where she was being treated for cancer in complete secrecy.
She wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the staff, but the most important thing is to talk to the patients who are being treated for cancer.
Catherine gave them not only sympathy, but also empathy.
The Princess’s presence on the wards was so encouraging and sent the message ‘I’ve been through this just like you and you can get over it’.
There were some touching moments. Kate had her hand on the patient’s knee, looking straight into her eyes, and the lady was laughing.
In another picture, Catherine held her hand on her chest, full of compassion and understanding.
It wasn’t that long ago that Kate was sitting there in a cold cap to stop her hair loss being treated by the wonderful staff.
When you’re completely cancer-free, it’s only natural to want to come back and say thank you—just as the King did last April when his first engagement after treatment was at University College Hospital.
The message I got from looking at these beautiful photos of Kate is that this is a woman who wants to return some of the kindness she herself received.
Significantly, both Catherine and William have decided to become patrons at the Royal Marsden Hospital – a real ‘thank you’ from the heart.
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It was an honor to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning, and we are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness Prince of Wales co-sponsored by our specialist cancer centre.
“We are incredibly lucky to receive the Royal Patronage – it is inspiring for staff and patients and allows us to shine a light on the extraordinary work our staff do every day for patients and their families.”
The hospital opened its doors in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, research and education of cancer.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer center operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London.
What does it mean to be ‘in remission’ after cancer?
Hearing ‘remission’ after cancer treatment is good news.
Being ‘in remission’ after cancer means that there are no detectable signs or symptoms of cancer in the body using scans or blood tests.
The person also does not show signs directly related to cancer.
It can be partial or complete – even with the latter, it does not mean that the cancer is cured.
‘Cured’ is not a term that doctors want to use because they cannot guarantee that there are no cancer cells in the body.
Regular check-ups and follow-up are essential to keep an eye out for a possible return of the cancer.
People may need to take medicines to prevent cancer, for example hormone treatments.
Remission means that the cancer has responded to treatment and is currently under control.
- Partial remission: Some, but not all, signs and symptoms of the cancer have disappeared.
- Complete remission: All signs and symptoms of the cancer have disappeared, although this does not necessarily mean that the cancer is cured.
EMOTIONAL STATEMENT
Kate revealed she had cancer in an emotional video statement last March – just weeks after the king shared his diagnosis.
Although she appeared at the Wimbledon tennis final with Charlotte last summer, this is her first solo appearance in more than a year.
Last week, The Sun revealed that Kate was planning a “gradual return” to frontline duties, and royal fans were warned not to expect the same “volume of work” as before her health crisis.
While speaking in South Africa in November, William said the couple had “travel” planned for the New Year, it is understood that Kate’s overseas tours are not currently “ruled out”.
But the princess will be seen “up and down the country”, and her work in the early years is the “golden thread” of her engagements this year.
A timeline of Kate’s health battle and recovery
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Catherine Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, celebrates her 43rd birthday along with Princess William of Wales and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince William is the eldest son of King Charles III and grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II. He is the first in the line of succession […]Credits: Mega Agency
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