Kate Middleton's Raw Truth: Why Post-Cancer Recovery Is 'Really, Really Difficult'

Kate Middleton Opens Up on the Profound Challenges of Post-Cancer Recovery

The Princess of Wales, Catherine, has candidly shared the unexpected and significant difficulties of the period following active cancer treatment, describing it as a "roller coaster" of finding a "new normal." Her poignant remarks came during her return to public duties on July 2, with a meaningful visit to a hospital well-being garden, underscoring a phase often overlooked in recovery.

(By: Simon Perry)

Kate Middleton's Raw Truth: Why Post-Cancer Recovery Is 'Really, Really Difficult'

Princess Kate, 43, made her first public appearance since missing Royal Ascot on June 18, demonstrating a gradual return to official engagements after announcing she was in remission in January 2025. Her visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex saw her engage with a specially designed well-being garden—a tranquil haven intended to offer solace and restoration for patients, dedicated NHS staff, and visitors alike.

The Unseen Struggle After Treatment Concludes

During her time at the hospital, the princess spoke with profound honesty about her own cancer journey, shedding light on a critical phase that many survivors navigate privately. "You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult," Kate revealed.

Kate Middleton's Raw Truth: Why Post-Cancer Recovery Is 'Really, Really Difficult'

She elaborated on the unique challenges, noting, "You're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to." This transition, she stressed, highlights the immense value of support and guidance. "Actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable."

Princess Kate emphasized the "life-changing" nature of this post-treatment period, not just for the patient, but for their entire family. "You have to find your new normal and that takes time...and it's a roller coaster, it's not smooth, like you expect it to be," she confessed, acknowledging that "the reality is you go through hard times."

A Journey of Resilience: From Diagnosis to Remission

The Princess of Wales first publicly shared her cancer diagnosis and the commencement of chemotherapy treatment in March 2024. This led to her stepping away from the public eye for the majority of that year to focus on her health. By September 2024, she announced the completion of her chemotherapy, and a few months later, in January 2025, confirmed she was in remission.

Kate Middleton's Raw Truth: Why Post-Cancer Recovery Is 'Really, Really Difficult'

Her return to royal duties in 2025 has been a measured process. While she was notably absent from Royal Ascot on June 18, sources close to the princess confirm she was disappointed but is diligently "listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life," as Queen Elizabeth’s former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE. This cautious approach emphasizes finding the right balance as she navigates her recovery. Prior to her Colchester Hospital visit, Kate and Prince William also quietly hosted a private meeting with Melinda French Gates at Windsor Castle on June 25, near their family home at Adelaide Cottage, where they reside with their three children, Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7).

The "Catherine's Rose" Initiative and Nature's Healing Power

During her poignant hospital visit, Princess Kate participated in the planting of several "Catherine’s Rose" plants. This newly launched bloom, named in her honor by the Royal Horticultural Society, features delicate pink roses, with proceeds benefiting the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity—an institution where the princess received care during her own treatment.

This initiative extends beyond Colchester Hospital, with 500 of these healing plants set to be distributed this summer to various well-being and community gardens across the U.K. These include vital spaces like Maggie’s centers (dedicated to cancer patients), East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (a long-standing patronage of Kate’s), and Horatio’s Gardens (supporting individuals with spinal injuries).

The princess's advocacy for nature's role in well-being is well-documented and deeply personal. She has long championed the power of green spaces to support emotional, physical, and spiritual health, a belief reportedly reinforced during her own recovery. Dwayne Fields, a chief scout who recently accompanied Kate on an outing in the Lake District, shared her sentiment: "She would say, ‘During my recovery, I spent a lot of time in the outdoors because that’s where I felt at peace.’" Fields noted her "superpower" of inviting genuine conversation and warmth.

Having supported nature-forward initiatives ranging from forest schools to therapeutic gardens, Princess Kate once articulated nature's profound benefit to "our physical and mental well-being." Her enthusiasm extends to practices like "forest bathing," a Japanese tradition promoting mindfulness through immersion in the natural world, which she embraced as early as 2019. Her recent public statements and actions underscore a powerful message: the journey through and beyond cancer is multifaceted, requiring not only medical care but also emotional support, a realistic adjustment to a "new normal," and the restorative embrace of nature.