Princess of Wales visits cancer hospital where she was treated
The Princess of Wales has made an emotional return to the hospital where she received her chemotherapy, as she hugged cancer patients and told of the challenges of getting back to normal life after treatment.
The Princess, who was treated secretly at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, walked through its front door for the first time in her own “cancer journey”, in her first solo engagement in more than a year.
Announced on Tuesday as the hospital’s joint patron, alongside her husband, the Prince of Wales, the Princess thanked staff for all they have done for her and others.
In an emotive visit, she thanked doctors and nurses for their “care, support and compassion” and swapped stories with patients undergoing their own treatment.
It was a surprise engagement for the Princess, which was kept under wraps by Kensington Palace and the hospital as she makes a gradual return to work.
Her first solo engagement since 2023 and a rare official outing in public was said to be “incredibly poignant” for her.
During the visit, which overran as the Princess talked to patients and staff, she shared some personal details during conversations about treatment.
Talking to Katherine Field, 45, who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy to preserve her hair, the Princess gestured to her own arm and chest to discuss the “port” mechanism to deliver the medicine.
“I got so attached to it,” the Princess said, joking that she had hesitated when finally told “you can have it taken out” now.
She is not thought to have used a cold cap herself.
The Princess remarked numerous times about the importance of positivity during treatment, saying that she had been encouraged by many people to keep up the things that bring her joy as best she can through “good days and bad days”.
She spoke of how the diagnosis and treatment could be “harder” for loved ones, and how difficult it had been to leap back into normal life after chemotherapy finished.
The Princess arrived at the hospital at 11.15am, greeted at the door by Sir Douglas Flint, the chairman of the Royal Marsden, and Prof Nicholas van As, its medical director.
She joked that it was a novelty to enter through the front door, having made “so many quiet visits” in “secrecy”, adding that it was “quite nice” to see the proper reception after all that time.
“I’m so grateful for all the care and support I’ve received here,” she said.
She was shown around the hospital by Mairead Griffin, the chief nurse at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Her first stop was at the medical day unit, where dozens of patients were visiting for their chemotherapy and immunotherapy cycles.
“It’s really tough,” the Princess said. “It’s such a shock.”
Many of the conversations saw both the Princess and patients smiling and swapping information about their treatment.
She had a particularly lively conversation with Ms Field, a breast cancer patient who was in hospital with her friend Rachael Burns for company.
Speaking of the feeling of companionship among patients, the Princess said: “I had to do it privately and quietly but being on a ward like this has to be reassuring in a way?”
“Everyone said to me, please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference,” the Princess said.
She added that she had also been advised to “make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on” for chemotherapy because of the side effects.
“They’ve been fantastic,” the Princess said of the Royal Marsden. “You feel in good hands.”
She asked each of the patients how their families were doing, how many rounds of treatment they were having and how they were finding it.
She was heard to say “oh my goodness” as she heard about details of patients’ diagnoses.
Of the importance of looking after oneself during and after treatment, she said: “I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight.”
When Ms Field’s machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling treatment was needed, the Princess jumped and said: “I recognise that beep.”
The Princess went on to have a quiet conversation with Peter Burton, 58, a myeloma patient, leaning in to listen carefully.
“The body is amazing at telling us: ‘You need to take time out,’” she was heard to say.
She went on to sit with Richard Bosworth, a 77-year-old myeloma patient, and his wife, Ruth, who immediately congratulated the Princess in managing her three young children “amazingly well” during her illness.
“Oh that’s kind,” the Princess replied. “Thank you for saying that.”
Speaking of receiving a diagnosis, the Princess told staff at the hospital: “It’s the uncertainty of that initial diagnosis. It’s such a wealth of information. Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside in the home setting, is so important.”
Of the wider impact of treatment on patients, the Princess added: “You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge.
“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.”
Her final official introduction was to Scout, the on-hand pets as therapy dog.
Bending over to stroke Scout, which offered a paw, the Princess said: “I bet patients absolutely love her.”
Before she left, she leaned in for a tight hug with Rebecca Mendlesohn, 57, who is on a trial for secondary cancer – breast and liver – and Tina Adumou, whose 19-year-old daughter is in ICU and broke down in tears when she told the Princess about it.
Putting an arm around her, the Princess asked questions and reassured her that she was in the best possible place.
“I wish I could do more,” she said. “It will get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Best of luck,” she said as she left. “You are in the best hands.”
On Tuesday, the Princess was confirmed as the new joint patron of the Royal Marsden, with her husband.
The Prince of Wales held the role of president of the Royal Marsden since 2007, a position previously held by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The engagement echoes the first public job undertaken by the King since he started treatment for cancer in April 2024, when he visited the Macmillan Cancer Centre in London and was seen holding hands with patients.
The Princess is undergoing a paced return to working life, after having serious abdominal surgery a year ago that turned into a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.
In September, she announced that she had finished her chemotherapy but was still on the path to full recovery and health.
Kensington Palace has emphasised that her public engagements will be limited for now.
Dame Cally Palmer, the chief executive of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning and are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in becoming joint patrons of our specialist cancer centre.
“We are incredibly fortunate to receive royal patronage – it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.”
The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
