Kate Middleton admits she puts on a ‘brave face’ but is no longer able to ‘function normally’ post cancer treatment

Last year was an incredibly difficult year for Kate Middleton. The Princess of Wales shared her devastating cancer diagnosis with the world back in March 2024 and while she has since been declared “cancer free” Middleton has recently made an emotional admission that she has not been able to function normally since her treatment.

During a visit to Colchester Hospital earlier this week Middleton spoke about her battle with cancer which she explained was a “really, really difficult” period in her life. She described having to “put on a sort of brave face” while undergoing treatment. She also admitted that the battle wasn’t over once the treatment was done.

Kate Middleton is still struggling

While she is not “under the clinical team any longer,” according to an article from Page Six, the Princess of Wales is no longer able “to function normally at home as [she] perhaps once used to.” She also added that it is vital to have “someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment.” It’s all about finding a “new normal” and that takes time according to Middleton.

While she did not elaborate on exactly what she meant by not being able to function normally, it has been noted that Middleton has been seen less at royal events, this would no doubt explain why. Most recently she dropped out of attending the Royal Ascot last month which raised a few eyebrows at the time. Some speculated that her husband, Prince William, had suggested she not “overdo it,” after she attended the Trooping of the Colour mere days before. 

However, some have viewed her recent absences in a less generous light. William and Kate have both defied royal protocols in the past and both have been labeled as “work-shy” by insiders at Buckingham Palace as well as the public.

A rocky road to recovery

While the worst looks to be behind Kate, (touch wood), it seems she still has a bit of a way to go when it comes to fully recovering from what she went through last year. “It’s a roller coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be,” Middleton explained, “the reality is you go through hard times.”

While the world shared an outpouring of support for the Princess of Wales when she initially shared her diagnosis last year, many assumed everything would be fine for her after it was announced her treatment had been successful. By talking about her experiences post-cancer, Kate is shining a light on the realities of battling such a terrible disease. Even if you are lucky enough to beat cancer, it can leave some heavy battle scars, ones that don’t go away overnight.