RECAP: Kate Middleton cancer remission update: Reaction as Princess of Wales shared major health news during Royal Marsden visit

Thank you for following MailOnline’s live blog after the Princess of Wales issued a cancer update.

The Princess also spoke to doctors and nurses involved in care and research, as well as pilot projects at the Marsden to improve holistic care.

Speaking of receiving a diagnosis, she said: ‘It’s the uncertainly of that initial diagnosis. It’s such a wealth of information.

‘Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside in the home setting, is so important.’

Kensington Palace were keen to stress today that that the guidance around her return to public-facing engagements has not changed and that it would continue to be ‘gradual’.

‘Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey,’ an aide emphasised.

The Princess shared details of her own treatment and met with four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden.

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.

From her moving video statement last March to September’s extraordinarily intimate family video, the Princess of Wales has shown admirable determination to speak about the devastating challenges of her ‘cancer journey’ on her own terms.

I can reveal that today’s visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in West London – where she announced she is in remission – was the next stage in a carefully calibrated plan to manage her recovery and measured return to official duties – and one that is being decided by Catherine herself, rather than palace courtiers, at every stage.

It is another example of the quiet, unhurried conviction that the instinctively-shy boarding school girl from Berkshire has shown since marrying into the Royal Family more than a decade ago, particularly as regards her own royal duties and the upbringing of her children.

And it is one that she has always been determined should not be buffeted by knee-jerk reactions to public (or media) opinion, or even that of other family members, no mean feat in today’s instantly-reactive, social media-dominated world.

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In her first major solo engagement in more than a year, Catherine, 43, met with patients at the Royal Marsden to show her support and personally thank staff for their ‘exceptional care, support and compassion’ over the past 12 months.

Revealing how she struggled with a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy, she said: ‘It’s really tough,’ 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 Princess asked patient’s details of their treatment, trials, wellbeing, and asked after their families.

‘I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,’ the post read.

‘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.’

The Princess of Wales has said ‘it is a relief to now be in remission’ from cancer and ‘looking forward to a fulfilling year’.

In a message on social media, signed ‘C’, Catherine said she was ‘looking forward to a fulfilling year as she thanked staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital for her ‘exceptional’ care.

Today is the first time the princess has used to the word ‘remission’ to describe where she is on her cancer journey, which will come as a delight to fans.

However professionals – and clearly the princess – shy away from using the word ‘cured’ as some cancers can return.

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Welcome to MailOnline’s live blog where we will be providing the latest news on Princess Kate’s cancer remission update.