Princess of Wales makes emotional visit to Royal Marsden Hospital

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?’

She hugged one well-wisher and told them: ‘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. 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.’

Chatting with staff, Catherine said: ‘You think treatment’s finished, crack on with that… daily tasks, but that’s still like a real challenge. And talking… the words totally disappear… understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects.’

And she told one patient: ‘The resilience you need to get through, first of all, a small taster of what you’ve gone through…. It’s to keep coming back….to be as positive as you are. The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.’

Another lady told her: ‘I think you’ve managed the children amazingly well,’ to which she replied: ‘Oh, that’s kind.’

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.

The Princess shared details of her own treatment and met with four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden.

She joked that it was a novelty for her to enter through the front door, having made ‘so many quiet visits’, adding that it was ‘quite nice’ to see the proper reception.

‘It’s really tough,’ she empathised with one patient who was having chemotherapy. ‘It’s such a shock’.

‘Everyone said to me please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference,’ she said, adding that ‘When I came in everyone said make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on’ because of the side effects.

The Princess asked patient’s details of their treatment, trials, wellbeing, and asked after their families.

‘Oh my goodness,’ she exclaimed on occasion, hearing difficult accounts of long treatment, and shook her head sympathetically.

Of the importance of looking after oneself during and after treatment, she said: ‘I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight.’

When one woman’s machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling treatment was needed, she said: ‘I recognise that beep!’

Hearing about one man’s diagnosis, the Princess said: ‘The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out’.’

Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard was having treatment, told the Princess she had ‘managed the children [George, Charlotte and Louis] so well’, making her smile warmly. ‘Oh, that’s kind,’ she replied.

A number of the patients opened the conversation by asking how the Princess was feeling. She replied that she was doing well, but recalled the cycle of treatment saying ‘sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one.’

‘Sometimes from the outside we all thing you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things. But it’s hard to get back to normal,’ she said.

She told numerous patients that it was so important to keep ‘doing the things that give you joy’.

‘It makes you appreciate all the small things in life that you take for granted,’ she said of a cancer diganosis.

The Princess also spoke to doctors and nurses involved in care and research, as well as pilot projects at the Marsden to improve holistic care.

Speaking of receiving a diagnosis, she said: ‘It’s the uncertainly of that initial diagnosis. It’s such a wealth of information. Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside in the home setting, is so important.’

Of the wider impact of treatment on patients, the Princess 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.’

In a discussion about holistic care, she repeated that the ‘continuity is so important, on good days and bad days’.

She added: ‘I feel like it’s sometimes for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.’

The Princess also praised the Marsden staff highly, saying she had heard from many patients how much their care had helped.

‘Whilst they don’t want to be there, they’re very grateful for everything the Marsden does,’ she said.

Her final official introduction was to Scout, the on-hand Pets As Therapy dog.

Bending over to stroke Scout who offered a paw, the Princess said: ‘I bet patients absolutely love her.’

She seemed surprised to see the number of people waiting to see her outside of the medical treatment room, stopping to say hello.

As she left the hospital, the Princess made an mini impromptu walkabout among patients and their supporters who had gathered in the corridor to see her.

Asking about their treatment, she leaned in for a tight hug with Rebecca Mendlesohn, 57, who is on a trial for secondary cancer – breast and liver – and Tina Adumou, whose 19-year-old daughter is currently in ICU and broke down into tears when she told the Princess about it.

Putting an arm around her, Kate asked questions and reassured her that she was in the best possible place. ‘I wish I could do more,’ she said, with feeling. ‘It will get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel.’

‘Best of luck,’ she said as she left. ‘You are in the best hands.’

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.’ 

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. 

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.

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.

‘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.