Princess Kate Slips into London for a Meaningful Engagement as the Wales Family’s Christmas Break Begins

The Princess of Wales made a surprise, private visit on Saturday evening to show her support for the Ever After Garden, an initiative run by the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Open from 13 November to 16 December, the garden invites visitors to donate and dedicate a rose in honor of someone they love. During her visit, Kate dedicated a rose of her own and spent time speaking with the volunteers who help maintain the garden.

The message attached to her rose read: “In loving memory of all those who have lost their lives to cancer.”

Following the visit, the mother of three shared a heartfelt message, saying: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Ever After Garden, which raises essential funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Every flower, every light, represents a cherished memory — a symbol of shared love, remembrance, and hope.” She signed the message simply with the letter ‘C’.

The initiative was first launched in 2019 and has since raised £1.6 million. This year alone, the charity has received £400,000 in donations, with 400 volunteers helping to keep the installation running throughout the month.

READ MORE: How Princess Kate Really Responded to Infidelity Rumours — and Why It Was More Painful Than Expected

Kate’s cancer journey

Kate confirmed she had been diagnosed with cancer in a video released on 22 March 2024, following several months away from public duties. During her treatment, she maintained a highly limited schedule while undergoing preventive chemotherapy.

She later made public appearances at Wimbledon and Trooping the Colour, before sharing a second video on 9 September 2024 announcing that she had completed chemotherapy. On 14 January, during a visit to the Royal Marsden hospital where she received treatment, the Princess revealed that she was officially in remission.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said at the time: “The Princess wanted to make the visit both to express her gratitude to the incredible team and to highlight the world-leading care and treatment provided by the Marsden.”

While Kate has shared few personal updates about living with the condition, in October 2025 her husband, the Prince of Wales, spoke with actor Eugene Levy about how he coped with his wife’s diagnosis.

While appearing on The Reluctant Traveller, William described 2024 as the most difficult year of his life, saying: “I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had.” He explained that he was trying to balance protecting his children and Catherine, while also supporting his father, noting that “he’s old enough to do that himself as well.”

William added that ensuring his family felt safe and had the space to process everything that had happened over the past year was essential, saying: “It’s important my family feel protected and have the space to process a lot of what’s gone on last year, and that was tricky — trying to do that while still carrying on with the job.”

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