In his first public apparition after the absence in Ascot, the Princess of Wales – in front of a group of patients of the Cancer Wellbeing Center of the Colchester hospital – spoke sincerely of the difficult path lived during treatment and healing from cancer, revealing the pressure of having to “appear courageous”, while “everyone expects you to be better, but it is not at all. At 43, Kate Middleton is continuing a slow and measured return to public life after the announcement of remission from an unspecified form of cancer.
Kate’s “new normality”
Kate explained how the post-treatment phase is often underestimated: “There is an entire phase in which, after the treatment is over, everyone expects that you are well and that you can return to normal. But that’s not the case at all ». He described the experience as “very frightening and demanding” and underlined how important it is to find a “new normality”, a process that requires time and patience. The princess spoke with empathy of the need for support for patients, especially when they are no longer under clinical control but are not yet able to live as before.
Kate also said she experienced acupuncture as part of her healing path. The princess underlined the importance of an integrated approach that involves mind, body and spirit, defining cancer a “experience that changes life” not only for those who are affected, but also for families.
A symbolic gesture in the garden of wellness
Despite the rain, Kate showed great enthusiasm and actively participated in the planting of the “Catherine Rose”, a fragrant coral rose, created and dedicated to her by the Royal Horticultural Society. The garden, inaugurated in July 2024, represents a refreshment and healing space for patients, visitors and healthcare personnel. The donation of 50 “Catherine Rose” plants at the hospital is part of a wider project that will bring these roses to different gardens of wellness in the United Kingdom.
In his dialogue with patients and operators, Kate stressed that the presence of a center dedicated to wellness and the community represents a fundamental point of reference for those who face the tumor. He recalled that often the first encounter with diagnosis is “a very frightening path”, and that finding hope and positivity through contact with those who have already experienced the experience is crucial for morality and healing.