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The Princess of Wales met a cancer patient at the same hospital where she received care for her illness last year.
The touching moment was captured on camera and posted online, as Kate, 43, underwent her first solo visit in a year at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
The woman could be heard thanking the future queen for ‘all her support’ to the patients, the hospital and its staff.
Kate responded: ‘No, but the least I could do is to come and shine a spotlight on the amazing work going on here at the Marsden. It’s extraordinary.
‘The amount of resilience I’ve seen here today through patients but also loved ones who are supporting those going through difficult times is inspiring.’
A man who was with the woman then said: ‘It’s the most amazing place, they’ve taken such good care of her.’
Kate then responded: ‘Good, that’s what we need to highlight and support but not only that, also the amazing ground-breaking research that is happening here.’
He then told the princess that the woman had undergone immunotherapy, which is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.
The touching moment was captured on camera and posted online, as Kate, 43, underwent her first solo visit in a year at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London
The royal then asked how she had found immunotherapy, to which the woman responded: ‘Everything has been fantastic.’
Kate said: ‘All these things matter, the support systems both here and in hospital and in communities and it makes a big difference to a patient’s wellbeing.’
Before exiting the hospital, the mother-of-three shook the hands of some of the medical staff and thanked them. She said: ‘It’s very nice to meet you, good luck with everything.’
Elsewhere, Kate was seen taking the time to engage in conversation with staff working the wards, thanking them for their ‘exceptional care, support and compassion’ over the past 12 months.
Kate also revealed how she struggled with a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy.
The royal said: ‘It’s really tough,’ as she empathised with one patient who was having chemotherapy. ‘It’s such a shock’.
Recalling words of advice that helped her, the princess added: ‘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 woman could be heard thanking the future queen for ‘all her support’ to the patients, the hospital and its staff
The Princess of Wales walking in to the hospital in London
The Princess of Wales meets Scout, the Royal Marsden Hospital’s therapy dog
The Princess of Wales talks with patient Peter Burton at the Royal Marsden Hospital today
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.’
When one woman’s machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling treatment was needed, she said: ‘I recognise that beep!’
Hearing about one man’s diagnosis, the Princess said: ‘The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out’.’
Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard was having treatment, told the Princess she had ‘managed the children [George, Charlotte and Louis] so well’, making her smile warmly. ‘Oh, that’s kind,’ she replied.
A number of the patients opened the conversation by asking how the Princess was feeling. She replied that she was doing well, but recalled the cycle of treatment saying ‘sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one.’
The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today
‘Sometimes from the outside we all think you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things. But it’s hard to get back to normal,’ she said
As she walked through the main entrance to the hospital’s Chelsea site, the Princess – dressed in a long brown winter coat and heels – was heard to say: ‘Coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice.’
Sitting down to talk to one lady who was undergoing treatment, wearing a cold cap to prevent hair loss, Catherine said: ‘When did you first start treatment? Oh, today? How are you finding it?’
She hugged one well-wisher and told them: ‘I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that’s going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time. Are you OK? There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.’
Chatting with staff, Catherine said: ‘You think treatment’s finished, crack on with that… daily tasks, but that’s still like a real challenge. And talking… the words totally disappear… understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects.’
And she told one patient: ‘The resilience you need to get through, first of all, a small taster of what you’ve gone through…. It’s to keep coming back….to be as positive as you are. The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.’
Another lady told her: ‘I think you’ve managed the children amazingly well,’ to which she replied: ‘Oh, that’s kind.’
The visit comes as Kensington Palace revealed the Princess of Wales will join her husband as joint royal patron of the Marsden, a role that Prince William’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales once held before her.
Kate also revealed today that she is in remission from cancer. In a message on social media, signed ‘C’, she 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.
‘My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything.
‘We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.
‘In my new role as Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden, my hope is that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.
‘It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed 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.’
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