On July 2, Princess Kate surprised the public with an unexpected appearance at Colchester Hospital in Essex, where she planted roses named after her in the facility’s wellbeing garden. During her visit, she shared heartfelt and candid remarks about the challenges cancer patients face after treatment, providing a rare glimpse into her personal experience.
Though the Princess of Wales typically refrains from discussing her own health journey, especially after her 2024 cancer diagnosis, her recent comments were seen as a refreshing departure from royal norms. Speaking to hospital staff and visitors, she explained that the struggle for cancer patients doesn’t end with treatment, emphasizing that life after remission can be just as difficult, if not more so. “You put on a sort of brave face” during chemotherapy, she said, but “the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
Her comments came just weeks after she unexpectedly canceled her appearance at the Royal Ascot in June, sparking public speculation. Royal expert Jennie Bond praised Kate for her candidness, noting that her remarks broke away from the traditional royal practice of maintaining a private persona. “The Princess has decided to speak frankly and emotionally about all that she has been, and is still, going through,” Bond explained. “Her words have a reach and an impact that few others could match.”
Kate also reflected on the post-treatment transition for cancer survivors, calling it “a roller coaster” and acknowledging the challenges of adjusting to a “new normal.” She added that it can take time for patients to find their balance after intense treatment and medical supervision.
Bond further highlighted that Kate’s openness allows the public to understand her situation better, including her need for breaks from public appearances. “We can now understand that there have been, and will be, times when the Princess just doesn’t feel able to appear in public,” she said. “She is, in her own words, still riding a rollercoaster and trying to come to terms with her ‘new normal.’”
In light of public scrutiny regarding her return to work, Bond urged the public to recognize that, for Kate, “normal” will never be the same as it once was. She pointed out that many cancer survivors share the difficulty of transitioning back to regular life after treatment ends, stressing that “normal” is a different concept for each individual.
