Kate Middleton shares hidden struggle of 'tough' cancer treatment on emotional solo visit

The Princess of Wales has carried out her first solo public royal engagement in more than a year by visiting the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank staff for their care and support following her cancer treatment

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 today's visit to the hospital's Chelsea site, the princess met staff and patients who are currently receiving cancer treatment. As Kate arrived at the hospital, she used the front entrance and remarked on the novelty of using the main doors rather than entering privately. She said: "I was just saying, coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice."

While meeting patients she was also heard greeting them with "very nice to meet you" and also asked one patient just starting their treatment today: "When did you first start treatment? Oh today? How are you finding it?" Kate was also heard talking about how her cancer diagnosis had affected her family with one lady telling her how she done "amazingly well" managing her children throughout her ordeal. She also told another about the importance of staying positive and opened up about the side effects from treatment and how it can affect doing daily tasks even after the treatment has finished.

She said: "You think treatment's finished but daily tasks that's still a real challenge." She also talked about how not only there are side effects of treatment but also more longer-term side effects too.

At the end of the engagement, Kate conducted a mini walkabout, greeting staff who had come out to see her and even dishing out hugs for them. She also gave a hug to one woman who told her a loved one was in hospital receiving treatment. She reassured her: "I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help. You OK? There is light at the end of the tunnel. Very nice to mee you, best of luck. You are in the best hands."

The poignant visit today also coincided with Kate joining her husband Prince William as joint Royal Patron of the Royal Marsden, a role once previously held by the late Princess Diana. The Royal Marsden is a research active cancer centre and plays an important role in helping advance cancer treatment for others in the UK and around the world.

In her role as joint Royal Patron, Kensington Palace said Kate is 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. After announcing a leave of absence from royal life, Kate managed to make public appearances at the King's official birthday in London, Trooping the Colour in London, and joined her sister Pippa and daughter Princess Charlotte at the Wimbledon Championships last June.

Kensington Palace was also keen to stress that despite today's visit, Kate's return to public duties would be gradual and the engagemeent today was all about her own personal journey. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "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."

Today's engagement marks the first time Kate has been seen in public since she joined the rest of the Royal Family for their annual Christmas Day walk to church in Sandringham. It also comes just days after she turned 43 when Prince William paid an emotional tribute to his wife after a turbulent year along with a beautiful new photo of the princess.

William issued the unprecendented written message on social media publicly praising her as an "incredible wife and mother" and hailing the strength she has shown in the past year following her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment as 'remarkable'. The message was accompanied by a new, unseen picture of Kate taken by Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer showing the princess looking relaxed and smiling with her hands in her jeans pockets and wearing a gingham scarf.

In his message declaring his love, William wrote: "To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W".

Later this week marks a year since she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16, just seven days after her 42nd birthday. She spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after undergoing the major operation, and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy. The royal family is hoping for a better 2025 after what William described as a 'brutal' and probably "the hardest year" of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.

The princess, a future queen, is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties with more appearances this year. William and Kate look set to carry out an overseas visit together, with the prince hinting as much. "I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up," he said during his tour to Cape Town last autumn.

Kate said in September after completing her treatment: "Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes."