Kate Middleton Gave an Update on Her Ongoing Cancer Challenges at Her Treatment Hospital
Kate Middleton made a solo trip to visit the Royal Marsden Hospital where she was treated for cancer last year.
Kate Middleton has made a meaningful trip to the hospital where she underwent cancer treatment last year.
On Tuesday Jan. 14, the Princess of Wales made the solo trip to the Royal Marsden Hospital where she met with patients and staff to express her gratitude and highlight the hospital's work. She wore a burgundy turtleneck midi dress, matching pumps, and a brown tweed wool coat for her first engagement of the year.
As a Kensington Palace spokesperson explained, Middleton "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.”
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Middleton met with a number of patients, including one woman who had begun her cancer treatment that day, per Daily Mail. "I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time," she said to the woman. "Are you OK? There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands."
Middleton also spoke to the staff at the hospital about the long-term effects of the treatment. "You think treatment's finished, crack on with that…daily tasks, but that's still like a real challenge," she said. "Understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects."
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This visit will be one Middleton's few royal engagements this year. Last week, it was reported that Middleton was planning on pacing herself this year as she continues to recover from her treatment. "She is looking after herself and is wise to do so," a source told People. "She will know when she wakes up if she is well enough or not [to do something]."
This followed other reports that Middleton was planning on making surprise engagements this year to avoid disappointing people at the last minute. As Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, told People in December, “They can’t raise people’s expectations with lots of engagements only for her [Middleton] to face a setback, not feel well, and things are canceled...the strategy of an unexpected visit gives her flexibility. She doesn’t have the pressure of feeling she has to turn up.”
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Middleton's chemotherapy treatment came to an end in September. Since then, she has made several appearances, including the annual Sandringham Christmas walk and her annual Christmas carol service. Some experts think that her next appearance could be at the 2025 BAFTAs.