Kate Middleton said she is “making good progress” amid her cancer treatment but knows she is “not out of the woods yet.”
In a personal message released on June 14, the Princess of Wales shared her first health update since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March.
Princess Kate, 42, started by thanking supporters for their “kind messages,” writing they helped her and her husband, Prince William, “through some of the harder times.” She also shared an update on her progress amid chemotherapy, her “hope” for the coming months and how she’s spending “personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity.”
Here’s everything we know amid Princess Kate’s latest health update.
Matt Porteous
Is Princess Kate still undergoing cancer treatment?
Yes.
In her letter, the Princess of Wales said, “My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months.”
The royal publicly announced her cancer diagnosis in an emotional video shared on March 22. After she underwent abdominal surgery in January, she was diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy.
Calling the news a “huge shock,” Princess Kate said in her video message that she and Prince William “have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. 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.”
How is Princess Kate doing amid her cancer treatment?
The Princess of Wales acknowledged in her letter, “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. 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.”
Kate added, “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.”
“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty,” she said. “Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal.”
When will we see Princess Kate again?
The Princess of Wales plans to attend Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of King Charles’ birthday in London, on June 15. The Princess of Wales wanted to be at the event to support her family. The outing will mark her first public event with the royal family since Christmas when she joined them for their annual holiday church visit.
“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” Kate wrote in her letter.
The royal is expected to ride in a horse-drawn carriage for the procession down The Mall with her three children — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 — while Prince William takes part on horseback. She will watch the event from the Major General’s Office overlooking the parade grounds. Princess Kate and the rest of the royal contingent will then travel back to Buckingham Palace, where they’ll gather on the royal residence’s famous balcony to watch the Royal Air Force’s flypast.
King Charles, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, “is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events and is much looking forward to all elements of the day,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on June 14.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Is Princess Kate returning to royal duties?
Not yet.
While the Princess of Wales said she is “starting to do a little work from home” and expressed a “hope to join a few public engagements over the summer,” no date has been set for her to fully return to her royal duties. Any outings in the near future will be based on when she feels able and under the guidance of her medical team.
Behind the scenes, Kate has started to work from home and hold meetings with her official teams in Windsor, where she primarily lives with Prince William and their children, when she feels able.
How is Prince William doing as Princess Kate continues cancer treatment?
“The Prince is pleased to see The Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson says. “He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children while continuing to undertake his public duties.”
Princess Kate referred to her husband in her update, saying, “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”
