Kate returns to cancer hospital to say thank you for care she received

The Princess of Wales praised the “incredible” cancer care she received at the Royal Marsden when she returned to thank hospital staff in person.

Kate met senior figures from the Royal Marsden and said their plans to expand patients’ holistic care through a new centre would be “transformative”.

The future queen, who announced in January 2025 she was in remission, sat down to chat to cancer patients and described one father living with a brain tumour as an “inspiration” after they bonded about the support they received from their children.

The Princess of Wales speaking to head and neck cancer patient Mike Collett, 74, during her visit (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

PA Wire

The visit came after Kate completed the gruelling three peaks challenge in 24 hours in June, raising funds for the development of a new specialist Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery at the Royal Marsden in central London.

Speaking to senior executives and clinicians from the specialist cancer hospital, the princess said about her fundraising: “This was my small way of being able to give back and say thank you to you.

“I had incredible care here and support from a huge team and I’m really, really grateful on a personal level.

“But also the holistic care; the treatments and therapeutic support on the outside is so important, it makes a big difference.

“The impact of nature, the impact of good nutrition, good ongoing support around you when it’s really difficult to manage the trials and tribulations of medical treatments … it makes a big difference.

“It made a big difference to me and it made a huge difference to lots of patients who I’ve spoken to – thank you and well done. I think it will be transformative.”