While speaking with staff and patients at Colchester Hospital about her cancer experience, the Princess of Wales shared the details of the traditional Chinese medical practice she incorporated into her healing journey
The Princess of Wales has revealed the holistic practice she incorporated into her cancer treatment journey during a candid chat about her illness with staff at patients at Colchester Hospital. Visiting the centre’s new Wellbeing Garden, the Kate delved into her own personal experience with cancer for the first time, revealing much about her illness and recovery.
During the conversation, Kate shared that she had utilised elements of traditional Chinese medicine during her cancer battle, particularly acupuncture, to help her healing process, while trading stories of strength and courage with other cancer survivors at the facility. Kate was first diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, and announced in January this year that she is officially in remission.
The Princess spoke of the individuality of cancer and how patients handle their diagnosis and treatment, saying: “What seems to be really fantastic is that there is a real personal approach: what helps one person – acupuncture or something – might not help another.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, acupuncture is a key aspect of traditional Chinese medicine, in which thin needles are inserted at strategic points across the body, helping to treat pain, boost general wellness, and manage stress.
While speaking with patients and staff at the Colchester Hospital, Princess Kate spoke about her gradual return to royal duties after her cancer battle, just weeks after her appearance at Royal Ascot was cancelled at the last minute.
Speaking inside the centre, which provides therapy, community groups and holistic treatments including reflexology, she said: “There is a whole phase when you finish your treatment, everybody expects you to be better – go! But that’s not the case at all.”
She said: “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like ’I can crack on, get back to normal’ but actually the phase afterwards is really difficult. You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.
“And actually someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment I think is really valuable.” She added: “You have to find your new normal and that takes time.”
The discussions were the princess’s most personal and extensive insight into her own battle with cancer to date, seeing her reference her own ill health several times while emphasising with patients and families.
“It’s life changing for anyone,” she said. “Through first diagnosis or post treatment and things like that, it is a life-changing experience both for the patient but also for the families as well. And actually it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time [of diagnosis], appreciate how much impact it is going to have.
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times.”
