Kate Middleton's Life in Remission: She's Moving 'Forward with Positivity and Hope' (Exclusive)

Kate Middleton is turning the page on a new chapter in remission.

The Princess of Wales, 43, is focused on the future after releasing a statement on January 14 expressing her “relief to now be in remission” after undergoing cancer treatment last year.

“She drew a line under last year and can move forward,” a close royal insider told PEOPLE in this week’s exclusive cover story. “The word ‘remission’ is such a positive thing to use, and it just feels like the veil has been lifted from their life in the last year and they can move forward with positivity and hope.”

Focusing on her personal well-being remains at the heart of Kate’s position. After a surprise visit to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital on January 14 — where she has been undergoing regular chemotherapy for most of 2024 — Kate reflected on her cancer journey in a candid statement: “I’m still focused on recovery. Like anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”

A source close to the royal family tells PEOPLE: “It’s been a tough journey — tougher than we might have thought. She’s been through a lot and it’s been a tough road. A serious illness like cancer changes you. She has a young family, and it makes you you question everything – your purpose and what you want to do with your life.”

Kate Middleton and Katherine Field at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14, 2025.

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Kate Middleton is in remission — here’s what that means

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are proud parents to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, are now focused on adjusting to their “new normal”.

“For the princess, family – her husband and children – is more important than anything else,” says a close royal insider.

According to royal sources, Kate’s “new normal” will not involve a dramatic “reset”. Instead, she plans to maintain a similar pace of royal engagements to the one she took in late 2024. Highlighting her steady and gradual approach, her visit to The Royal Marsden marked her first solo engagement since 2023.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George on December 25, 2024.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

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As Princess Kate said during her surprise visit, “You think the treatment is over and you can go on and get back to normal, but it’s still a real challenge. The words are completely lost. And understanding that as a patient – yes, there are side effects involved with treatment, but actually has more long-term side effects.”

Kate Middleton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14, 2025.

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While quietly continuing her commitment to early childhood development initiatives behind the scenes, the Princess of Wales said she had rediscovered “joy” in her work and embraced a renewed purpose: championing the “groundbreaking research and clinical excellence” of Royal Marsden and its pioneering cancer facilities .

In a significant departure from tradition, she and Prince William were recently confirmed as joint patrons of the hospital, carrying on the legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana, who became president of the institution in 1989.

Princess Diana talks to Mrs Jessie Nesbit at The Royal Marsden Hospital on 8 October 1992.

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Ingrid Seward, who has covered the royal family for decades and witnessed Diana’s deep connection to Royal Marsden, sees echoes of the late princess in Kate’s approach.

“It was incredibly genuine — she really cared, and they obviously felt it,” Seward says of Kate’s warm demeanor at the medical center. “She made them feel special. It’s unusual with a royal – but you certainly had that with Diana and now we have Kate. She really got it.”

Kate Middleton and Katherine Field at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14, 2025.

Chris Jackson/Getty

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Indeed, the cornerstone of the princess’s new mission is nurturing personal connections. Speaking with Katherine Field, who underwent her fourth round of chemotherapy for breast cancer on January 14, Kate’s empathy was unmistakable. The two women discussed their treatment experiences, including the port they both had placed for chemotherapy and the cold cap used to reduce hair loss – something Kate didn’t need. The royal also shared her own self-care strategies during the treatment, stressing the importance of hydration and sunlight.

During their exchange, Field tells PEOPLE, “It was like talking to a friend about a really horrible time in life and finding ways to get through it. She’s very special — to be able to connect with people so quickly and so empathetically.”

For more on Princess Kate’s new life in remission, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

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