Less than a year after announcing her cancer diagnosis, the Princess of Wales has confirmed she is now in remission.

Earlier today (14 Jan), the 43-year-old visited Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, southwest London, where she expressed gratitude to the staff who had supported her during treatment and met with other cancer patients.

Reflecting on her journey, Kate shared, “It’s really tough. It’s such a shock. Everyone said to me, ‘Please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference.’”

Discussing life after treatment, she added, “You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge. The words totally disappear. And understanding that, as a patient, yes, there are side-effects around treatment but actually there are more long-term side-effects.”

Last January, Kate underwent major abdominal surgery at the London Clinic, spending two weeks in the hospital before recovering at home. She publicly disclosed her cancer diagnosis two months later, following widespread public speculation about her absence from the spotlight.

This recent unannounced solo visit, coinciding with her new role as joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, comes four months after she completed chemotherapy.