As Princess Kate continues her recovery from cancer, sources close to the royal family have provided updates on her progress and shed light on when she might return to her official duties. The 42-year-old princess, who announced her diagnosis in mid-March, has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatments while spending quality time with her family.
During a recent visit to St. Mary's Community Hospital in the Isles of Scilly, Prince William briefly updated staffers on his wife's health, telling a hospital administrator that Kate was "doing well." The future king also mentioned that their three children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 - were jealous he was traveling to one of their favorite family destinations without them.
Insiders reveal that Kate has been actively involved in her children's lives during her recovery. "Kate's feeling strong enough to be very involved with the kids," says one source, as reported by US Weekly. "She's been an active parent." Another source adds, "Kate's recovery is going well. She's not able to see many people because she is susceptible to getting sick and they don't want her compromised, but she's up and about."
Despite her progress, questions remain about when Princess Kate will resume her royal duties. Recent reports suggest she may not return to work until the fall or even next year. A Kensington Palace spokesman clarified that while Kate had been briefed on a new report published by her early years foundation, it did not signify her return to work. "We have been really clear that [Princess Kate] needs the space and the privacy to recover right now," the Palace stated, adding, "She will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors."
According to a source, Kate's team is "reevaluating what she's going to be able to take on when she comes back," noting, "She may never come back in the role that people saw her in before."
The royal family recently caught a lucky break when King Charles III, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, announced that certain engagements would be postponed due to a surprise general election called by U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in July. This reprieve has allowed Kate and William to spend more time together, with a source revealing, "They've been reconnecting and are closer than ever."
The family of five has been primarily stationed at their Norfolk summer home, Anmer Hall, a 10-bedroom country house on the Sandringham Estate. "They're spending a lot of time as a family there," says a source, adding that when Kate is not on mom duty, she enjoys cooking and baking.
Kate's inner circle remains small and tight, with her mother, Carole Middleton, and sister, Pippa, being a constant presence. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams notes, "The Middletons have always been very close. The royal family has to be terribly careful about [who they let in], but Kate knows who to trust."
As Kate reflects on her royal role during her recovery, Fitzwilliams believes that the public will likely be updated on her return date if she remains sidelined into the fall. "If you're not told at all, and months pass, there's clearly speculation, and that could happen again. So I'm sure that it will be handled differently," he explains.
When Kate is able to return to her duties, "it will be [based] on medical advice, and it will be very carefully balanced," says Fitzwilliams, acknowledging that her health battle is "obviously tremendously draining." A source close to the princess suggests that her role may look very different upon her return, stating, "She's looking at what it will shape into."