A Quiet Summer of Recovery
The annual royal summer break has arrived at a crucial time for the Princess of Wales. Eight months after announcing her cancer was in remission, Kate Middleton, 43, continues to put on a brave public face at official engagements, but palace insiders reveal she is still “struggling” emotionally and physically behind closed doors.
“She tires much more easily and it’s taking longer to readjust to royal life after her treatment,” one source shared, noting that Prince William has been protective of his wife, ensuring she has rest before their children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — return to school in September.
According to insiders, Kate has “unofficially stepped back” from many royal duties this summer, with William’s full support. “She’s told him she needs a proper break before the busy autumn season,” the source said.
Gradual Return to Public Life
Although her schedule has been light, Kate has made select high-profile appearances in recent months. She delighted crowds at Trooping the Color in June and later attended both the men’s and women’s Wimbledon finals in July.
The palace strategy has been to “gradually ease her back into working life.” Still, her absence was noted at Royal Ascot, where she had been expected but pulled out at the last moment, leaving William to attend alone.
Instead, Kate lent her voice to a short film titled Mother Nature: Summer, released in mid-August, in which she narrated a message about love, friendship, and the beauty of nature. “So open your hearts: sing, dance, play,” she said in the video. “Our lives flourish when we cherish the bonds of love and friendship. Here’s to Summer.”
Finding a “New Normal”
The Princess has spoken candidly about the difficult transition following her cancer treatment. During a July hospital garden visit, she admitted that while chemotherapy had ended, life had not simply returned to what it was before.
“You put on a brave face through treatment,” she explained, “and then it’s like, ‘I can get back to normal.’ But actually, the phase afterwards is really difficult. You’re no longer under the clinical team, but you can’t function normally at home as you once did.”
Kate described the process as a “roller coaster” and acknowledged the need to find a “new normal.” She added: “That takes time… the reality is you go through hard times.”
The Princess of Wales revealed her diagnosis in March 2024 after major abdominal surgery, before undergoing chemotherapy. She confirmed in September 2024 that treatment had ended, and by January this year announced she was officially in remission.