Princess Catherine shared a touching moment with singer Jessie J at the Royal Variety Show in November 2025, as both women shared their cancer journeys.
Jessie J recently underwent a mastectomy in June of this year as part of her breast cancer treatment. According to reports, Jessie, who was performing that night, asked the princess if she could hug her because “cancer really puts life into perspective”.
The Princess of Wales has spoken candidly about the difficulties she faced throughout her treatment, saying she’d gone through “hard times.”
“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,” the Princess of Wales told staff and patients at Colchester Hospital, where she was visiting the RHS Wellbeing Garden in July 2025.
“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.
“But it’s life-changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post-treatment and things like that, it is a life-changing experience both for the patient but also for the families as well.
“And actually, it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, appreciate how much impact it is going to have.
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time… and it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times.”
At the time, this was Princess Catherine’s first public appearance after pulling out of Royal Ascot. She was in Colchester to learn more about how gardens in health care settings contribute to both positive outcomes and speedier recovery.
She finished her visit by planting 50 “Catherine’s Rose plants”. Named after the princess, funds from sales of the flowers will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
It was back in January 2025, Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed her cancer is in remission. She then thanked well-wishers for their support.
On January 14, she paid a visit to The Royal Marsden, the hospital that first diagnosed and treated her cancer. She shared in an Instagram post her relief and gratitude and how she is now in remission:
“It is a relief to now be in remission, and I remain focused 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”
Back in September 2024, she revealed she had finished chemotherapy and was “doing what I can to stay cancer-free”.
In a three-minute video posted to the Kensington Palace social media, Catherine speaks about her recovery. In the video, Catherine says she is entering a “new phase of recovery”. She continues that she will be “undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can”.
The video shows Catherine, Prince William and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis. It depicts the family walking through the countryside, picnicking and playing games as Catherine talks through her recovery.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 9, 2024
As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.
The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an… pic.twitter.com/9S1W8sDHUL
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” Catherine says in the clip.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,” she said.
Despite their difficulties as a family, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been candid with their children.
In an interview with Luciano Huck while visiting Brazil for his Earthshot Prize Awards, Prince William reflected on his wife’s battle.
“Every family has its own difficulties and its own challenges, and I think it’s very individual and sort of moment-dependent as to how you deal with those problems.
“We choose to communicate a lot more with our children. Now that has good things and bad things. Sometimes you feel you’re oversharing with the children. You probably shouldn’t, but most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn’t work.
“There are no answers. But it’s always a balancing act to me that every parent knows that it’s kind of: ‘How much do I say? What do I say? When do I say?’ And you know, there’s no manual for being a parent. You’ve just got to go with a bit of instinct,” he said.”
Since announcing her cancer diagnosis, Catherine has been undergoing “preventative chemotherapy”.
“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she added.
The news came almost three months after Catherine appeared at The King’s Birthday Parade. In a statement shared to the @princessandprinceofwales Instagram account to announce Princess Catherine’s attendance at The King’s Birthday Parade, she shed light on her health journey since starting cancer treatment.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” the Princess shared.
“On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”
She went on to explain what her treatment journey would look like over the next few months.
“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”
At the end of her statement, she shared how she is learning more about herself and her health journey.
“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”
This follows Prince William‘s June 6th, 2024, update on her health amidst cancer treatment.
While attending the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, a veteran asked William if Catherine was “getting any better?”
“Yes, she is. She’d have loved to be here,” William replied.
Catherine first revealed her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, with an Instagram video. The video was filmed in the gardens of Windsor Castle by the BBC.
The video was posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales account. In it, she explained how the abdominal surgery she underwent in January led to her cancer discovery.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” the Princess of Wales explained.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
In the video, she went on to share her shock as well as how her family dealt with the news.
“This, of course, came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” Catherine said.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”
Catherine took the opportunity to thank everyone for their well-wishes and gave a sweet tribute to William.
“Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too.
“As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both,” she added before asking for space and privacy.
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment,” she said.
“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
After Catherine’s announcement via Instagram, there was a global outpouring of support and tributes for the Princess of Wales.
In response, a spokesperson for the royal couple released a message thanking everyone for their kind words.
The statement from Kensington Palace said: “The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.
“They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”
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