Kate Middleton surprises cancer patients during return to hospital where she received treatment

LONDON, UK: The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Tuesday, January 14.

During her first major solo engagement in over a year, she reflected on her journey with cancer treatment, sharing her experiences and offering support and advice to patients.

Kate Middleton urges everyone to 'keep a positive mindset' to make a difference

Kate Middleton, 43, expressed gratitude to the hospital staff for their exceptional care and compassion during her treatment there. 

Recalling her experience with a grueling chemotherapy course at the hospital, Middleton said, “It’s really tough,” while speaking with a patient undergoing chemotherapy, "It's such a shock," as per Daily Mail. 

Sharing the advice she received following her diagnosis, Middleton said, “Everyone said to me, please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference.”

Middleton also shared practical advice she received, “When I came in, everyone said make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on,” she said referring to the side effects of chemotherapy.

She asked patients about their treatments, trials, families, and well-being at one time exclaiming "Oh my goodness" on hearing the difficult accounts. 

Middleton also recognized the beep of machinery when a women patient needed treatment saying, "I recognize that beep!" the publication reported. 

Hearing about one man’s diagnosis, she remarked, “The body is amazing at telling us ‘you need to take time out.’”

Kate Middleton says it's hard to get 'back to normal'

When Kate Middleton was asked about her health and how she was feeling, she replied that she was doing well. But recalled her time while receiving treatment, "sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one."

"Sometimes from the outside we all thing you've finished treatment and you go back to things. But it's hard to get back to normal,' she said.

She also said, "I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight," noted the publication. 

Kate Middleton assures patients that 'there is light at the end of that tunnel'

Kate Middleton while hugging one well-wisher told them she wanted to come and show "my support for the amazing work that’s going on here."

Besides empathizing with those individuals "who are going through treatment and having such a hard time." She added, "Are you OK? There is light at the end of that tunnel.”

She also highlighted the long-term effects of cancer treatments, telling staff, “You think treatment’s finished, crack on with that… daily tasks, but that’s still like a real challenge.”

She expressed admiration for patients’ strength, saying, “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.”

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."