"Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life," the Princess of Wales wrote
Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
- Kate Middleton shared that cancer “changes how you think and feel” in an emotional new message
- “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life,” she wrote in an Instagram post on June 28
- In the post, the Princess of Wales also revealed that she completed Britain’s National Three Peaks Challenge to highlight life after a cancer diagnosis and support the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Kate Middleton is reflecting on the many ways a cancer diagnosis impacts patients and their loved ones.
In a new post shared on Instagram on Sunday, June 28, the Princess of Wales, 44, revealed that she completed Britain's National Three Peaks Challenge to "explore life beyond diagnosis."
Alongside a photo of herself at the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland on Saturday, June 27, Kate also shared a candid message about the challenging experience of navigating a cancer diagnosis.
"Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no one wants to hear," Kate wrote. "What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts."
"Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life," she continued. "I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone."
View this post on Instagram
In March 2024, the Princess of Wales announced that she was undergoing treatment for cancer following an abdominal surgery. She said in September 2024 that she had completed chemotherapy and shared in January 2025 that she was in remission. The form of cancer was never disclosed.
Back in May, Kate's husband, Prince William, shared an emotional update on his wife's recovery in a rare live interview, underscoring how she's the anchor of their family. “She's an amazing mum, an amazing wife, and, literally, our family couldn’t cope without her, so she's been absolutely stunning, brilliant," William, 44, said on Heart Breakfast.
"She's been amazing. She's been through so much in the last couple of years, particularly," he added.
As part of the National Three Peaks Challenge, Kate climbed the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales — Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, respectively — in 24 hours.
After completing the challenge with her final climb — Snowdon — Kate was met at the end by husband Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her brother, James Middleton, the Palace confirmed.
"I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavor but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back," Kate explained in her social media post, adding that her decision to participate in the challenge stemmed from her desire to "raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare."
Credit: Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
"Every individual is different, and ensuring there is a whole person approach to care enables those living through cancer to manage the deeply personal challenge of diagnosis," she continued in part. "Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients’ ability to maintain their wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time."
"Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live," Kate added. "Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn’t just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking through."
View this post on Instagram
Kate also shared a video message in which she further detailed why she decided to take on the challenge.
"People have asked me why I'm doing this challenge, and partly it's personal," she said. "I'm so grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills. But more importantly, it's to give something back."
Kate shared that her participation in the challenge would help raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity — specifically the charity's efforts to expand access to holistic cancer care for patients across the U.K.
Credit: Jordan Pettitt – Pool/Getty
"It will also support research into how these can best work alongside clinical cancer treatments to help patients every step of the way," Kate wrote on social media. "The goal is to create a blueprint for change, so this supportive care becomes a standard part of cancer treatment nationally."
In the caption of her video, Kate added a message of hope, writing, "Together, we can stand alongside everyone navigating life with cancer, ensuring no one faces this disease feeling unseen or unsupported. Please know you are not alone."
Read the full article here
