Catherine, Princess of Wales has thanked staff at the hospital where she had cancer treatment.

The 43-year-old royal stepped back from official duties in 2024 as she underwent a course of chemotherapy and in one of her first public appearances of the year on Tuesday (14.01.25), she visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in West London to visit the doctors and nurses who cared for her.

Whilst there, Catherine - who is married to Prince William and has Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine and six-year-old Prince Louis with him - also had conversations with patients currently receiving cancer treatment.

According to the BBC, she told one patient: "It's really tough. It's such a shock. Everyone said to me, 'please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference."

But Catherine also admitted that she has struggled to get "back to normal" since she was given the all-cler.

Sh said: "You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that's still a real challenge. Sometimes from the outside we all think you've finished treatment and you go back to things. But it's hard to get back to normal."

"The words totally disappear. And understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment but actually there are more long-term side effects."

The princess also reminded patients to listen to their bodies if they feel as if they need "time out" from the stresses of everything.

She said: "The body is amazing at telling us 'you need to take time out'."

Prior to leaving, Catherine hugged a cancer patient and offered her her condolences amid her ordeal.

She told the woman: "I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help.

"I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time!"