“The next phase is really, really hard.”
Kate Middleton just got very real about what life looks like after cancer treatment—and her honesty hit home.
After months out of the public eye, the Princess of Wales made a moving appearance at Colchester Hospital in Essex, where she didn’t just show up—she showed up vulnerable. Speaking with patients and staff, she opened up about the complicated emotional terrain that comes after the chemo ends. “You put on a brave face during treatment,” she said. “Then it ends and you think you can get back to normal, but actually, that next phase is really, really hard.”
Let’s be honest—there’s something incredibly powerful about hearing this from one of the most public women in the world. Kate, 43, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024 and confirmed she’d finished chemotherapy in September. While she’s been easing back into public life, she’s doing it on her own terms, skipping high-profile events like Royal Ascot to prioritize her health (and honestly? That’s the energy we’re taking into this year).
During the hospital visit, Kate helped plant “Catherine’s Rose”—a new flower named in her honour by the Royal Horticultural Society. Sales of the rose will support the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, where she received her care. And the symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone: something delicate and strong, blooming after the storm.
She also shared how important support is during this post-treatment period. “You’re no longer under the care of the medical team, but you can’t just go back to life as it was,” she said. “You have to find a new normal—and that takes time.”
It’s not just talk. Kate has always been a big advocate for mental health and the healing power of nature, and that theme continued as she spent time in Colchester’s wellbeing garden—a space she helped bring to life with landscaper Adam Frost and NHS staff.
Her next official outing? She’s expected to help welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron during their State Visit to the UK next week. But even with her royal duties resuming, it’s clear she’s rewriting what a “comeback” looks like. No rushing. No pretending. Just a woman in recovery, taking it one real step at a time.
