Emotion gripped the public as Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, shared her deeply personal journey in battling cancer. Speaking on Wednesday (02.07.2025), she revealed that she had to ‘pretend’ to be brave throughout and after her treatment last year, describing the experience as life-changing.
The 43-year-old Duchess announced in March of the previous year that she was undergoing chemotherapy after tests following an abdominal surgery detected a form of cancer that was not officially specified by the palace. She completed her treatment in September and confirmed earlier this year that the disease was in remission.
“You kind of pretend to be brave, putting on a stoic front during treatment,” she explained during a visit to a hospital in Essex, southeastern England. “Then when treatment ends, you feel like you can jump straight back into normal life — but the reality is that the aftermath is truly difficult.”
During her visit, Kate spoke with staff, patients, and volunteers, emphasizing the importance of continued support after treatment concludes. She noted that while patients may no longer be under clinical care, many struggle to return to functioning normally at home, just as they did before their diagnosis.
According to PA Media, the duchess described how a cancer diagnosis and its treatment ‘change lives’ for both patients and their loved ones, adding, “It’s full of ups and downs; it’s not smooth sailing.”
Kate has been gradually returning to her public duties but missed last month’s Royal Ascot horse races, with a palace source citing her need for balance following cancer treatment.