Kate comforts cancer patients in surprise return to hospital that treated her
The Princess of Wales offered comfort to cancer patients and their families as she made an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated, telling them: “There is light at the end of that tunnel.”
Kate spoke candidly about her own diagnosis, the “shock” of her “really tough” chemotherapy and the challenges of getting back to normal as she visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, south-west London, on Tuesday to thank her “amazing” medical teams for her care.
The princess, on her first major solo official engagement for more than a year, hugged Tina Adumou, who broke down in tears as she told Kate that her 19-year-old daughter is in the intensive care unit.
Putting an arm around her, Kate looked emotional and told her she is in the best possible place.
The princess said: “I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that’s going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time.”
Crowds of people gathered to see the princess outside the medical treatment room, and she made an impromptu walkabout among patients and their supporters waiting in the corridor.
She tightly hugged Rebecca Mendlesohn, 57, who is on a trial for secondary cancer – breast and liver.
The engagement – the princess’s first for 2025 – was described as an important and “incredibly poignant” moment in Kate’s “personal journey”.
The princess, wearing a burgundy polo neck top and matching skirt, shared details of her own treatment and met four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden as she sat alongside them in the hospital’s treatment room.
Talking to Katherine Field, 45, who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair, the princess gestured to her own arm and chest to discuss the “port” mechanism used to deliver the medicine.
“I got so attached to it,” Kate said, joking that she had hesitated when finally told “you can have it taken out”.
“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.
Asked how she is feeling now, Kate replied that she is doing well, but spoke about life post-treatment.
“You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge,” she said.
Kate also spoke about the overwhelming nature of receiving a diagnosis.
“It’s the uncertainty of that initial diagnosis. It’s such a wealth of information,” she said.
“Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient.
She told several patients it is 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.
Kate was also said to have wanted to show her support in person to those going through cancer treatment.
The unannounced visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Prince of Wales.
In September, after announcing the end of her own treatment, Kate promised: “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand.”
The Palace was keen to stress that the guidance around Kate’s return to public-facing engagements has not changed and it will continue to be gradual.
The princess joked about the novelty of going in through the main entrance after so many quiet visits in “secrecy”.
“I was just saying, coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice.”
Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard, 77, is having treatment for myeloma, told the princess: “I think you’ve managed the children amazingly well.”
Kate replied: “Oh, that’s kind.”
During a discussion on holistic care, the princess said: “I feel like it’s sometimes harder for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.”
William has described 2024 as “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.
Kate praised the Marsden staff, saying she had heard from many patients how much their care had helped.
She asked patients about details of their treatment, trials, wellbeing, and inquired after their families.
“Oh my goodness,” she said, shaking her head, as she heard accounts of difficult, long treatment.
When one woman’s machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling action is needed, the princess jumped and remarked: “I recognise that beep.”
In a quiet conversation with Peter Burton, 58, a myeloma patient, she leant in to listen carefully.
“The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out’,” she was heard to say.
Kate celebrated her 43rd birthday last week, with the Prince of Wales paying a heartfelt public tribute to her as the “most incredible wife and mother”, saying “the strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable”.
The visit to the Marsden came two days before the first anniversary of Kate’s admission to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16 2024.
She spent nearly two weeks in hospital after the operation, and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy.
At the Marsden on Tuesday, Kate was also introduced to Scout, the on-hand Pets As Therapy dog.
Bending over to stroke Scout, who offered a paw, the princess said: “I bet patients absolutely love her.”