As a Macmillan cancer expert who's had the disease twice, I know why Kate Middleton's 'new normal' after chemo is so challenging - everyone expects you to be overjoyed, but life will never be the same
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For the first time in public yesterday, the Princess of Wales reflected on her 'relief' that she's now in remission from cancer - and discussed navigating her 'new normal' as her recovery continues. After spending the day meeting staff and patients at London's The Royal Marsden hospital on Tuesday, where the royal, 43, was treated for an undiagnosed cancer following abdominal surgery last year, Kate took to Instagram following the visit.
![[A message on social media, signed 'C', said: 'I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/16/94086951-14284265-image-a-11_1736872964112.jpg)
The princess wrote: 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.'.
![[Compassion: The Princess of Wales wraps patient Rebecca Mendelsohn in a huge hug. A survey set to be published by Kidney Cancer UK next month says more than a quarter of people who finish cancer treatment successfully describe themselves as 'unhappy']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/15/11/94076693-14287077-The_Princess_of_Wales_wraps_patient_Rebecca_Mendelsohn_in_a_huge-m-2_1736942053926.jpg)
In the social media message, signed 'C', the Princess also thanked staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital for her 'exceptional' care in recent months. The Princess of Wales, who also announced she is to become Joint Patron of the hospital alongside Prince William, spoke about how difficult she'd found juggling treatment with family life, including caring for Princes George, 11, and Louis, six, and Princess Charlotte, nine.
![[Anxious: Adrienne Betteley, 57, is a strategic advisor for cancer care at Macmillan; she has been diagnosed with cancer herself twice and says she lived with 'canxiety', a fear her cancer would return, after her first diagnosis in 2016]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/15/13/94120975-14287077-image-a-23_1736947472056.jpg)
Chatting with staff about her treatment during her visit, Catherine said: 'You think treatment's finished, crack on with that… daily tasks, but that's still like a real challenge.'. The Princess of Wales looked pensive as she arrived at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea yesterday; the royal, 43, says she's still trying to adapt to the 'new normal' following her announcement that she's now in remission.
![[The Princess of Wales pictured speaking to patients at the Royal Marsden hospital, where she received treatment in 2024. The royal, 43, spoke about the 'resilience' needed to juggle normal life with often gruelling treatment]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/12/94075641-14282085-image-a-47_1736858477891.jpg)
