The Princess of Wales has revealed that she ‘didn’t have to have’ cold cap therapy – which helps prevent hair loss – during her chemotherapy treatment, according to a cancer patient who met the royal during her visit to Royal Marsden Hospital.
On Tuesday, Kate, 43, on her first major solo official engagement in over a year, made an emotional return to the central London clinic where she was treated.
During her visit, the mother-of-three was photographed animatedly talking to 45-year-old patient Katherine Field, who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair.
A cold cap can be worn during some chemotherapy treatments and its cooling effect reduces blood flow to the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication reaching the area and helps to prevent hair loss.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Katherine revealed how the Princess discussed cold cap therapy, adding: ‘She just said that she didn’t have to have it. For her to lose her hair, which is so iconic, would have been awful. Everyone loves her hair!’
The art historian and curator also discussed how meeting the royal – who kindly placed her hand on the patient’s knee as a gesture of comfort – was ‘just like talking to a friend about a really horrible time in life’.
‘She’s warm, and it just felt like sitting with a girlfriend having a chat, which is pretty hard to achieve in those circumstances. She is very special – to be able to connect with people so quickly and so empathetically, added Katherine.
Elsewhere during her chat with the art professional, Kate shared how she ‘got so attached’ to her chemotherapy port while undergoing treatment for the disease.
The Princess of Wales has revealed that she ‘didn’t have to have’ cold cap therapy – which helps prevent hair loss – during her chemotherapy treatment, according to a cancer patient (pictured centre, Katherine Field) who met the royal during her visit to Royal Marsden Hospital
Gestured to her own arm and chest to discuss the ‘port’ mechanism used to deliver the medicine, the royal also joked that she ‘hesitated’ when medics said it could be removed.
The ‘port’ – also known as a portacath or subcutaneous port – is a small, implantable device that allows chemotherapy drugs to be delivered directly into a vein.
The device can be left in for weeks, months or even years – and when it is no longer needed, it can be taken out by a doctor or specialist nurse with an anaesthetic.
‘I got so attached to it,’ the Princess said, joking that she had hesitated when finally told ‘you can have it taken out’.
After making an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated to comfort fellow patients, Kate also revealed that she is now in remission from cancer.
Kate, in a written personal message following her visit, described her ‘relief’ and said ‘there is much to look forward to’.
It is the first time Kate has used the word remission to describe where she is in her cancer journey.
The princess said, in her message which was signed ‘C’: ‘It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery.
On Tuesday, Kate, 43, on her first major solo official engagement in over a year, made an emotional return to the central London clinic where she was treated
The Princess of Wales talks with Katherine Field, who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London
The Royal Marsden in London is where the Princess of Wales underwent treatment last year
‘As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.
‘I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.’
She also thanked the Royal Marsden for its ‘exceptional’ care and for ‘looking after me so well’.
‘My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn’t have asked for me,’ the princess added.
In September, Kate told how ‘doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus’ as she announced the end of her chemotherapy treatment.
Sufficient time has passed since the end of her chemotherapy meaning the princess can now describe herself as in ‘remission’.
Kate spoke candidly about her own diagnosis, the ‘shock’ of her ‘really tough’ chemotherapy and the challenges of getting back to normal as she thanked her ‘amazing’ medical teams for her care during her trip to the Marsden on Tuesday.
The princess, on her first major solo official engagement for more than a year, hugged Tina Adumou, who broke down in tears as she told Kate that her 19-year-old daughter is in the intensive care unit.
The Princess of Wales hugs Rebecca Mendelhson during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital
The Princess of Wales looks up at a sign during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London
The Princess of Wales talks with Kerr Melia during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital
Putting an arm around her, Kate looked emotional and told her she is in the best possible place.
The princess said: ‘I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that’s going on here, and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time.’
Kate added: ‘Are you OK? Yes?’ then said, smiling: ‘There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.’
The engagement – the princess’s first for 2025 – was described as an important and ‘incredibly poignant’ moment in Kate’s ‘personal journey’.
It had not been previously disclosed that Kate was treated at the Marsden – a world-leading state-of-the-art cancer centre known for its pioneering research.
The unannounced visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Prince of Wales – a patronage once held by Diana, Princess of Wales.
Kate said in her message: ‘My hope is, that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.’
In September, Kate promised to remain with all those continuing their own cancer journey ‘side by side, hand in hand’.
The Princess of Wales meets Scout, a therapy dog, during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital
The Princess of Wales talks with Peter Burton during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital
The Princess of Wales talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital
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Crowds of people gathered to see the princess outside the medical treatment room, and she made an impromptu walkabout among patients and their supporters waiting in the corridor.
She tightly hugged Rebecca Mendlesohn, 57, who is on a trial for secondary cancer – breast and liver.
The princess, wearing a burgundy polo neck top and matching skirt, met four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden as she sat alongside them in the hospital’s treatment room.
‘It’s really tough,’ she told one patient who was having chemotherapy. ‘It’s such a shock.’
‘Everyone said to me ‘Please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference’,’ Kate said.
She added ‘when I came in everyone said ‘Make sure you have all your warm things (clothes) on” because of the side-effects.
Asked how she is feeling now, Kate replied that she is doing well, but spoke about life post-treatment.
‘You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that’s still a real challenge,’ she said, and referred to ‘more long-term side-effects’.
The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London
The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Tuesday
Kate also spoke about the overwhelming nature of receiving a diagnosis.
‘Understanding the diagnosis, it’s a massive amount of information to take on as a patient,’ she said.
She told several patients it is important to keep ‘doing the things that give you joy’.
The princess joked about the novelty of going in through the main entrance of the Marsden after so many quiet visits in ‘secrecy’.
Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard, 77, is having treatment for myeloma, told the princess: ‘I think you’ve managed the children amazingly well.’ Kate replied: ‘Oh, that’s kind.’
During a discussion on holistic care, the princess said: ‘I feel like it’s sometimes harder for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.’
William has described 2024 as ‘brutal’, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.
When one woman’s machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling action is needed, the princess jumped and remarked: ‘I recognise that beep.’
Kensington Palace stressed that the guidance around Kate’s return to public-facing engagements has not changed and it will continue to be gradual.
The visit to the Marsden came two days before the first anniversary of Kate’s admission to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16, 2024.
What is a cooling cap?
Scalp cooling is a way of reducing or preventing hair loss during chemotherapy. It can also help hair grow back after treatment and is often called a cold cap or cool cap.
The cap reduces the temperature of the scalp which makes the blood vessels smaller and reduces blood flow to the area. This can stop some chemotherapy drugs from affecting your hair follicles.
There are two types of scalp cooling, a refrigerated cooling system and a cold gel cap.
A refrigerated cooling system works by a machine pumping liquid coolant through the cap while you’re wearing it.
Whereas a cold gel cap uses a special cap filled with frozen gel and kept in a freezer. The cold cap – fitted with Velcro – needs changing every 20 to 40 minutes.
