The Princess of Wales has visited the Royal Marsden Hospital where she received treatment to personally thank the staff for their “exceptional care, support and compassion over the past year.”
The Palace said Kate was also keen to show her support for those currently undergoing treatment as she returned to the hospital in Chelsea, west London.
During her visit on Tuesday morning, the princess met with staff and patients, describing the experience as “poignant.”
The surprise official solo engagement – the princess’s first of 2025 – was described by the Palace s as an important moment in Kate’s “personal journey”.
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.”
Kate talks with Katherine Field during a visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital (Getty Images)
One woman told the Princess as she sat with patients and their families on the ward: “I think you’ve managed the children amazingly well.”
Kate replied: “Oh that’s kind.”
The Princess added: “The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.”
She also reflected on the challenges faced by families affected by cancer, commenting: “The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.”
In conversation with a male patient, the princess acknowledged the emotional toll of treatment.
Kate is greeted by Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden on her visit (Getty Images)
Kensington Palace emphasized that the Princess’s return to public-facing engagements remains gradual. The spokesperson said: “The guidance around the Princess’s return to public-facing engagements hasn’t changed and will continue to be gradual. Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey.”
Kate’s husband, William, The Prince of Wales did not attend, as this visit was intended for the Princess to independently acknowledge her care experience.
The visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Prince of Wales.
The patronage was once held by Diana, Princess of Wales, and William has been its president for many years, but will now serve as co-patron with Kate.
The princess, in her new role as patron, was said to be looking forward to supporting the Marsden’s work in advancing cancer research, treatment and care as well as learning more about how it can benefit patients in the future.
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 comes two days before the first anniversary of Kate’s admittance 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.
William described 2024 as “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.
In June, the princess, in a candid written message, revealed she was “making good progress” but had “good days and bad days”, was “not out of the woods yet” and was facing a few more months of treatment.
In September last year the princess confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed that she, William and their children had faced an “incredibly tough” time.
The spokesperson said: “Her Royal Highness looks forward to supporting the hospital’s work in advancing cancer research, treatment, and care while learning how it can continue to benefit patients in the future.”
The Royal Marsden is a leading cancer research centre in the UK and plays a significant role in advancing cancer treatment both nationally and globally.