Princess Kate Middleton sends ‘subtle message’ as she visits cancer patients
The Princess of Wales pulled out of Royal Ascot last month
Princess Kate Middleton returned to the spotlight yesterday (July 2) with an appearance at Colchester Hospital.
She visited the RHS Wellbeing Garden to highlight the healing power of nature, and appeared to send a subtle but poignant message in the process.
Kate Middleton sends message at hospital appearance
The Princess of Wales, 43, wore a beige pinstriped blazer from Blazé Milano, the very same one she wore in her emotional June 2024 health update, in which she shared that she was still undergoing cancer treatment.
At the time, she was photographed sitting beneath a tree by royal photographer Matt Porteous. The statement included the now-memorable line: “I am not out of the woods yet.”
The choice to wear the same blazer appears to be a gentle nod to that moment, an acknowledgement of how far she has come.
Although her treatment is now complete, Kate was open in Colchester about the emotional toll the recovery process continues to take.
Speaking with patients and staff, the princess candidly described the post-treatment phase as one of the most challenging parts of her journey.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatments done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,'” she said. “But actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
She went on to reflect on how this phase is often overlooked.
The royal added: “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer. But you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.”
‘You have to find your new normal’
Wearing a striped Ralph Lauren shirt under the blazer, Kate looked elegant yet understated.
The princess emphasised the importance of having support networks.
The mum-of-three continued: “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that phase that comes after treatment, I think, is really valuable.
“But it’s life-changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post-treatment and things like that. It is a life-changing experience both for the patient and also for the families as well. And actually, it sometimes goes unrecognised. You don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, appreciate how much impact it is going to have.”
Despite pulling out of Royal Ascot two weeks ago, yesterday’s appearance signalled her continued commitment to public service, and perhaps, a quiet reassurance to the public that she is finding her new rhythm.
“You have to find your new normal, and that takes time,” she continued. “It’s a rollercoaster. It’s not one smooth plane. But the reality is, you go through hard times.”
Kate also expressed how crucial community spaces like the hospital’s garden can be during recovery.
“To have a place like this, to have the support network, through creativity and singing or gardening or whatever it might be, is so valuable,” she said. “It’s great this community has it. It would be great if lots of communities had this kind of support.”
Read more: Princess Kate Middleton describes ‘rollercoaster’ cancer treatment in her own words
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