Kate Middleton makes emotional first solo trip to cancer hospital that treated her
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The Princess of Wales has paid an emotional visit to the hospital where she received treatment for cancer in her first solo public engagement in more than a year - and opened up on how daily life can still be a challenge. Today Kate, 43, visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London as the she wanted the opportunity to personally thank the staff for their exceptional care, support and compassion over the past year. She also wanted to show her support to those currently going through treatment, royal sources said.
The princess finished chemotherapy treatment at the end of last summer, having been diagnosed with the disease in February after spending two weeks at The London Clinic in Marylebone following abdominal surgery. During the visit today, Kate met four cancer patients and shared stories with them. 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.".
