Princess Kate celebrated her 43rd birthday on January 9th, marking her first birthday since completing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer. The Princess of Wales announced her diagnosis and treatment in March 2024 and shared the news of completing chemotherapy in September. She reflected on the challenging year at her Together at Christmas carol service in December, stating, “I didn’t know this year was going to be the year that I’ve just had.”
A family friend told PEOPLE that Princess Kate, known for her active lifestyle, is wisely focusing on her health. “She is looking after herself and is wise to do so. She will know when she wakes up if she is well enough or not [to do something],” the friend shared.
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Royal author Robert Hardman, who wrote The Making of a King: Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, emphasized that the princess’s recovery is ongoing. “We are being encouraged not to look at this as a chapter that’s over and then it’s back to normal, because cancer doesn’t work like that,” Hardman explained. “The details remain private but there’s no getting over the reality that it’s an unpredictable disease.” He added, “The clue is in her phrase ‘one day at a time’ — that’s how she’s going to approach it,” referencing a line from her September announcement where she said, “Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”
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A source close to the Princess commented on her recovery process: “She has been allowed to get back in her own way. She has been able to pace it and do it her way, and that’s great.”
Princess Kate’s recent Christmas Day appearance alongside Prince William and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, showcased her engagement with well-wishers. Many of her conversations focused on cancer, a topic close to the royal family as King Charles was also diagnosed with cancer last February. Palace sources indicate his treatment is “moving in a positive direction.”
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An insider shared, “Family has seen [Kate] through thick and thin this year … There is a sense of optimism going forward.” Princess Kate spent her birthday privately at home with her family, who recently returned to Lambrook School after the holiday break.
