Kate Middleton made a touching return to the public eye on July 2, appearing at Colchester Hospital’s wellbeing garden to meet patients and quietly reflect on her personal experience with cancer.

The Princess of Wales, 43, helped plant a rose named in her honor — “Catherine’s Rose” — while speaking openly about the emotional aftermath of treatment. This marked her first public appearance since missing Royal Ascot last month, and her presence was met with warmth and admiration from staff, patients and members of the public.

Kate first revealed her cancer diagnosis in early 2024 and confirmed she had begun preventative chemotherapy. Though she shared in January that she was in remission, she has largely kept details of her recovery private — until now.

During Tuesday’s visit, however, she offered rare insight into what life has been like after treatment.

“You put on a brave face during treatment,” she told a small group. “Then it’s like, ‘Okay, I can get back to normal.’ But actually, that phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”

She added that while patients are no longer actively under clinical care, they often find themselves unable to fully function at home or resume routines as expected. “You have to find your new normal — and that takes time,” she said. “It’s not a smooth path. It’s a rollercoaster.”

Kate’s comments were described by onlookers as honest and comforting, particularly for others facing similar journeys.

The Princess also spent time speaking one-on-one with other patients in the garden, offering her presence not as a royal figure, but as someone who has experienced the same fear and uncertainty.

The selfie rule? Kate’s not sticking to it — and people love her for it

Beyond her moving reflections on health, Kate also made headlines for something much lighter: breaking royal protocol — again.

As she greeted well-wishers outside the hospital, Kate happily posed for selfies, smiled in the rain, and chatted freely with members of the public. It’s a noticeable shift from the more traditional, hands-off approach once favored by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who discouraged personal photos with royals.

Kate and Prince William, however, have consistently taken a more relaxed approach in recent years. Whether at charity events or walkabouts, they’ve embraced hugs, selfies, and candid moments — gestures that have helped bridge the generational gap between the monarchy and the public.

Royal commentator Emily Ferguson notes that this isn’t accidental. “It’s part of a wider effort to make the Royal Family more relatable, especially to Gen Z,” she explained in an earlier interview. “William’s comfort with selfies and video messages shows he understands where attention is shifting — and how to meet people there.”

If Tuesday’s event in Colchester is any indication, the strategy is working. Kate’s compassion, authenticity and quiet rebellion against outdated royal “rules” might just be helping to shape a more modern monarchy — one handshake, rose, and selfie at a time.