The Princess of Wales has returned to the hospital where she was treated for cancer in an ‘incredibly poignant’ visit to thank staff personally.
Kate’s surprise solo visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, London, was Kate’s first official undertaking of 2025 and was hailed as a significant step in her “personal journey”.
The princess received chemotherapy at the internationally acclaimed Royal Marsden, noted for its ground-breaking research and top-tier cancer treatments.
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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, 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.”
In an intimate moment while spending time with patients and their families on the ward, one woman praised Kate’s handling of her children, to which the princess graciously responded, “Oh that’s kind.”
The princess added: “The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.” Kate was said to have wanted to show her support in person to those going through cancer treatment.
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This unexpected visit coincided with the announcement that Kate has been appointed as joint Royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, sharing the role with Prince Charles.
The patronage was previously held by Diana, Princess of Wales. William has served as its president for many years and will now share the co-patron role with Kate.
The Palace was keen to stress that the guidance around Kate’s return to public-facing engagements had not changed and it would continue to be gradual.
“Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey,” a spokesperson said.
In her new role as patron, the princess is said to be eager to support the Marsden’s work in advancing cancer research, treatment and care, and learning more about how it can benefit future patients. Kate celebrated her 43rd birthday last week, with Prince Charles publicly praising her as the “most incredible wife and mother”, adding that “the strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable”.
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Her visit to the Marsden comes two days before the first anniversary of her admission to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16, 2024. After the operation, she spent nearly two weeks in hospital and was recuperating at home when she received the diagnosis of cancer and began chemotherapy.
William referred to 2024 as “brutal” and likely “the most challenging year” of his life, coinciding with his father, the King’s, cancer diagnosis. In June, the princess shared a heartfelt written message, stating she was “making good progress” but experiencing “good days and bad days”, and was “not out of the woods yet”, with a few more months of treatment ahead.
By September, the princess announced she had finished her treatment but confessed that she, William, and their children had endured an “incredibly tough” period.