Princess Kate completes chemotherapy and resumes public duties

Kate, Princess of Wales, announced she has completed her chemotherapy treatment for cancer and plans to resume some public duties. This news follows a challenging period for the royal family, with both 42-year-old Kate and King Charles III undergoing cancer treatment.

Charles, 75, began returning to public engagements in April after a three-month break for treatment and recovery from an undisclosed cancer. Since her diagnosis in March, Kate made only two public appearances. She described the last nine months as “incredibly tough” for her family but expressed a renewed sense of hope and appreciation for life.

On 16 January 2024, Kate was admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery. The procedure, not cancer-related, was successful, and she remained in the hospital for 10-14 days. On the same day, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles’s treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

On 21 January, Sarah, Duchess of York, revealed she had malignant melanoma. Charles was admitted to a London hospital on 26 January for prostate treatment, staying for three days. Both Kate and Charles were discharged from the London Clinic on 29 January; Charles was photographed leaving with Camilla, but Kate was not pictured.

On 5 February, Buckingham Palace announced Charles’s cancer diagnosis without specifying the type. Prince Harry visited his father on 7 February, departing the next day. Charles made his first public appearance since his diagnosis on 11 February, waving to well-wishers after church services near Sandringham.

On 27 February, William skipped a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, due to a “personal matter.” Buckingham Palace later announced the death of Thomas Kingston, Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law, from a “traumatic head wound” on 25 February.

On 10 March, Kensington Palace released a Mother’s Day photo of Kate with her children, which was later retracted over concerns of digital manipulation. Kate apologised for the “confusion” caused by the edited photo on 11 March, explaining she occasionally experiments with editing.

On 16 March, The Sun published a video showing Kate shopping with William near their Windsor home. On 20 March, the Information Commissioner’s Office investigated a report that a staff member at the London Clinic attempted to access Kate’s medical records.

On 22 March, Princess Kate announced in a video address that she was undergoing cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, and needed to focus on her recovery. Charles attended the Easter Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on 31 March. Buckingham Palace announced on 26 April that Charles would resume public duties.

Charles attended the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in Normandy on 6 June. On 14 June, Kate updated the public on her health, expressing gratitude for the support and saying she would attend the monarch’s birthday ceremonies the next day. During the Trooping the Colour event on 15 June, Kate appeared with William and their children, receiving cheers from the crowd.

Princess Kate presented the men’s winner Carlos Alcaraz with his trophy at Wimbledon on 14 July, her second public appearance since her diagnosis. On the same day, Buckingham Palace announced Charles and Queen Camilla’s planned visit to Australia and Samoa in the autumn.

On 9 September, Kate released a video message announcing she had finished chemotherapy and reflecting on her “complex, scary and unpredictable” cancer journey. She mentioned planning “a few more public engagements” during her recovery.