Princess of Wales reveals challenges of recovering from chemo

The Princess of Wales has revealed challenges she faced as she recovers from chemotherapy, after her 2024 cancer diagnosis.

During a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex, the Princess spent time with patients, NHS staff and visitors at the well-being garden, where she revealed information about her cancer journey.

She spoke of the challenges of recovering from chemotherapy.

Catherine said that she “put on a sort of brave face” during treatment but that it felt “really difficult” afterwards.

Picture by Toby Shepheard / Kensington Palace

She also revealed that she could not function normally while undergoing treatment.

“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatment’s done – then it’s like ‘I can crack on, get back to normal’.

“But actually the phase afterwards is really difficult, you’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she remarked.

The Princess added, “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”

Her Royal Highness also discussed people’s expectations for those recovering from cancer.

“There is this whole phase when you finish your treatment that you, yourself, everybody, expects you, right, you’ve finished your time, go, you’re better, and that’s not the case at all,” she told a group of patients.

Catherine announced in January 2025 that she was in remission from cancer. She has cautiously begun royal engagements since the announcement, attending large events like Trooping the Colour and the Commonwealth Day Service.