Kate Middleton poignantly hugs OAP with cancer after own 'brutal' year with disease

The Princess of Wales was seen embracing 73-year-old Karen Maclean after the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham today after they talked about their experiences with cancer

The Princess of Wales gave a poignant hug to a cancer patient following the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service after her own "brutal" year with the disease.

Kate, alongside her husband Prince William and their children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – joined King Charles and Queen Camilla as they walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.

Some had camped overnight to catch a glimpse of the royals walking to church in Norfolk. Following the service, which lasted about 45 minutes, Kate chatted to 73-year-old Karen Maclean from North Lincolnshire, who said she had had "20 years of cancer". And in a poignant moment, the pair shared a hug with Karen also chatting to the King about his experience.

Karen said: “We just had a little talk about cancer, really. I’ve met the King before. He said to me 'I can remember you', I’m thinking 'what!', like many years ago?" She said that Charles and Kate seemed "very well actually, considering what they’re going through". She added after hugging Kate: "What a privilege."

She also told The Sun: "We were talking about our illnesses, because we're both cancer victims, when she reached out and hugged me. It was really unexpected and such a joy… I gave her a tight squeeze back. It was such a surreal moment.

"You get a camaraderie with other cancer victims. Unless you've been on that journey, you can't understand what it's like. They've not had the best of years, so it's nice to see them all back out together and united."

Earlier, William walked hand-in-hand with Charlotte while Kate, who wore a green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and hat, smiled at the crowds. Also in the walking party were Princess Anne, Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attended the service after she changed her travel plans due to medical advice during her pregnancy. Absent was Beatrice’s father, the Duke of York, who has been dogged by links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Andrew, 64, had joined the family at church for the last two years but was expected to be spending Christmas Day with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York this year at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.

The royals who walked to the service were greeted at the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams. They headed inside and the national anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.

William has described the past year, in which his wife and father were treated for cancer, as 'brutal'. He said 2024 has "probably been the hardest year in my life" and a 'dreadful' experience."