Princess of Wales makes emotional visit to hospital where she has been treated for cancer – after promising to stand ‘side by side’ with fellow patients
The Princess of Wales made a deeply emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London this morning, where it can now be revealed she has been undergoing her own cancer treatment.
On her first major solo engagement in more than a year, compassionate Catherine, 43, met with patients to show her support and personally thank staff for their ‘exceptional care, support and compassion’ over the past 12 months.
As she walked through the main entrance to the hospital’s Chelsea site, the Princess – dressed in a long brown winter coat and heels – was heard to say: ‘I was just saying, coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice.’
Sitting down to talk to one lady who was undergoing treatment, wearing a cold cap to prevent hair loss, Catherine said: ‘When did you first start treatment? Oh, today? How are you finding it?’
It came as Kensington Palace revealed that the Princess will join her husband as joint royal patron of the Marsden, a role that Prince William’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales once held before her.
A spokesman told the Mail: ‘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.’
As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, today’s visit is one of a small number of engagements Catherine will undertake this year as part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties.
Indeed, Kensington Palace were keen to stress today that that the guidance around her return to public-facing engagements has not changed and that it would continue to be ‘gradual’.
‘Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey,’ an aide emphasised.
It comes after the Princess said in September upon completing her chemotherapy treatment: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.’
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales meets Scout the therapy dog at the Royal Marsden Hospital this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
It is understood that the visit was always planned to be a solo engagement for the Princess, even though her husband is already patron, as it was felt important for her to visit the Marsden independently to reflect on her own ‘personal journey’. The decision has William’s full backing and support.
The Princess announced in September 2024 that she had completed a gruelling course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’ after doctors found evidence of cancer following serious abdominal surgery in January.
In a moving personal statement she spoke openly about the ‘incredibly tough’ year she had endured and the ‘complex, scary and unpredictable’ nature of her diagnosis and treatment.
Throughout it all, she made clear, her and William’s priority has been to protect their three young children.
The palace has not yet revealed details of the cancer she was diagnosed with or the nature of the operation she first underwent other than to describe it as ‘planned abdominal surgery’.
However it was serious enough to require several months of recuperation alone, even before her cancer diagnosis and has left the Princess warning that her road to recovery is ongoing.
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales meets Scout the therapy dog at the Royal Marsden Hospital this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales walked through the main entrance to the hospital’s Chelsea site today
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London today
Kate meets with patients to show her support during her trip to the Royal Marsden this morning
Last week William marked her birthday by posting a rare public tribute to his wife, paying tribute to the strength she has shown and expressing love and pride that he, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and little Prince Louis have for her.
The last major solo engagement undertaken by the Princess before her health took a turn for the worse was on December 5, 2023 when she visited the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London to open its day surgery unit.
She subsequently hosted her annual carol service with her family and attended Wimbledon last year with Charlotte, as well as events such as Trooping the Colour, but always with other family members.
Today’s special visit was carried out amid a strict security blackout with minimal media present in order to protect the privacy of patients currently undergoing scheduled cancer treatments and so as not to disrupt the daily workings of the hospital.
January 9, 2025 — Prince William shared a birthday tribute to the Princess of Wales last week, calling her the ‘most incredible wife and mother’ alongside a previously-unseen photo of her
December 25, 2024 — William, Kate and their children at church in Sandringham, Norfolk
December 6, 2024 — Charlotte, Louis and Kate during the Westminster Abbey carol service
December 3, 2024 — Kate joins William to welcome the Emir of Qatar for a state visit to London
November 10, 2024 — Kate and Sophie at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph
November 9, 2024 — Kate and William at the Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance
As she met with staff and patients who are currently receiving treatment, sources described the visit as ‘incredibly poignant’.
The Royal Marsden is a research active cancer centre and plays an important role in helping advance cancer treatment for others here in the UK and around the world.
In her new role as joint royal patron, Catherine is 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.
In its announcement, Kensington Palace said: ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales have today become joint patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
‘The patronage update has been announced following a visit by Her Royal Highness to the hospital’s Chelsea site earlier today and follows the Princess’ own personal cancer journey, during which she received treatment from the Royal Marsden.
October 10, 2024 — Kate and William meet the emergency services in Southport, Merseyside
October 2, 2024 — Kate hugs aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, who had cancer, after inviting her to take pictures at William’s Windsor Castle investiture. The girl died eight weeks later
September 9, 2024 — Kate confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed in a deeply personal video how she, William and their children had faced an ‘incredibly tough’ time
July 14, 2024 — The Princess in the royal box on day 14 of the Wimbledon Championships
June 15, 2024 — William and Kate at Trooping the Colour on the Buckingham Palace balcony
December 5, 2023 — The last major solo engagement by Kate before her health took a turn for the worse saw her visit the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London to open its day surgery unit
‘Today’s visit saw the Princess meet patients currently undergoing treatment as well as staff working in different roles across the hospital.’
Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning, and are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in becoming joint patrons of our specialist cancer centre.
‘We are incredibly fortunate to receive royal patronage – it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.’
The Royal Marsden opened its doors in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
Today, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London.
William has held the role of president of the Royal Marsden since 2007, a position which was previously held by Diana.
He most recently visited the Royal Marsden to open their Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton in June 2023.
The Royal Marsden also confirmed that until now William had been its president – but, with his wife now joining him, the couple would henceforth be joint patrons.
