Catherine, Princess of Wales, made another public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. On Aug. 25, she was spotted at Crathie Kirk, a small church in Scotland.
She was seen with husband Prince William and her in-laws, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The royal family often spends their summers at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Before that, her last appearance was in July at Wimbledon tennis tournament, the men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
The mother of three received a standing ovation when she arrived at the Royal Box at Centre Court.
About a month prior to Wimbledon, she attended Trooping the Colour, the annual June parade celebrating the official birthday of the monarch. The day beforehand, she confirmed she would attend in a rare statement, though she clarified she’s not yet officially returning to royal duties due to her health issues.
In the statement, Kate gave her first update on her condition since announcing she had cancer in March. She shared that she is making “good progress” but has a few months left of chemotherapy and that she’s “not out of the woods.”
Before Trooping the Colour, Catherine had not taken on any public-facing royal duties since late 2023. Here’s what we know about her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis
The Princess of Wales said that she was in the “early stages” of preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer in a March 2024 video statement. She did not specify the kind of cancer.
The diagnosis came after Kate underwent major abdominal surgery in January. “At the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous,” she said in the video. “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”
Kate added that the news of her cancer diagnosis came as a “huge shock,” noting that she and her husband, Prince William, were aiming to “manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she said. “But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
The princess assured viewers in the video that she is “well and getting stronger every day.” She also asked for “time, space and privacy” as she undergoes treatment and said she is focused on making a “full recovery.”
What kind of cancer does Kate Middleton have?
In her video statement, the princess did not specify what kind of cancer she is undergoing treatment for. She shared that it was discovered after an abdominal surgery in January.
The most common types of cancer discovered through abdominal surgery are gastrointestinal, such as colon or stomach, or genital or urinary, Dr. Ben Ho Park, director of precision oncology at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, told TODAY.com. He was sure to point out, however, that “it could be anything.”
Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery
In mid-January 2024, prior to her cancer diagnosis, Kate underwent a planned abdominal surgery.
In a statement released the following day, Kensington Palace wrote: “The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
The statement went on to say the palace would only provide updates that were “significant” and to apologize on behalf of the princess, who had to postpone all upcoming engagements.
Kate returned home to Windsor to continue to recover in late January, according to a palace statement, which added, “She is making good progress.”
At the time, a palace source told NBC News that she was expected to be recuperating for two to three months following the surgery.
“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the statement said.
A Kensington Palace source told NBC News in mid-January that William would be postponing appearances in the coming months and not conduct any official duties while his wife was in the hospital or immediately after she returned home.
For weeks after the surgery and before her cancer diagnosis was revealed, speculation, rumors and conspiracies theories swirled around the wellbeing of the future queen.
The palace has yet to reveal what the abdominal surgery was meant to address.
What has Kate said about her cancer treatment?
When Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis, she specified that she was undergoing “a course of preventative chemotherapy.”
While not a clinical term, Park says preventive (also known as adjuvant) chemotherapy refers to a treatment that follows any initial interventions, such as surgery, to prevent cancer from returning. Clinical trials have found that chemotherapy can reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.
In Kate’s June 2024 statement, she reflected on what it’s been like undergo chemotherapy.
“On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she said.
“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” she continued. “On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”
Will Kate be returning to her royal duties?
While Kate attended Trooping the Colour on June 15, she is not making a full return to royal duties just yet, according to her statement.
“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she said.
A senior palace aid previously told NBC News in late May: “She will return to work when she has the green light from her doctors. She needs her space and the privacy to recover right now.”
When her diagnosis was revealed in March, the palace said in an official statement: “The Princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team. She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.”
