Princess Kate defies cancer recovery expectations: No one 'dared to hope'

When Princess Kate announced her cancer remission at the start of 2025, she asked for some “time to adjust to a new normal,” leading fans to lower their expectations as she made her gradual return to public life. But as the year closes out, the future queen has defied all expectations.

Three state visits, an anniversary trip abroad with Prince William, and multiple public engagements later, those close to the Princess of Wales see nothing but positive signs in her recovery, according to a new report published by the Daily Mail on Friday, December 5.

“It's still an ongoing process,” one source told the outlet, “but I think this year has felt much more normal than anyone had expected, or even dared to hope.”

Insiders note that Kate is genuinely enjoying being back at the helm of projects she cares about, such as her early development projects, her Nature docuseries, her return to the Wimbledon stands, and her upcoming Christmas Carol service. 

“It's a new normal rather than the normal we once knew, if that makes sense?” a source said of Kate's new routine. “We will see the pace of things continue in the same vein without any great change. But the shoots of recovery are definitely there.”

Behind the scenes, her medical recovery remains a steady consideration. During her July visit to a Colchester hospital garden, Kate herself spoke about the lingering toll of chemotherapy. And that awareness drives the team’s careful planning.

“It's still a balancing act,” an insider noted. “The team needs to get the drumbeat right.”

However, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. “The children remain at the centre of her universe, and William's,” a friend said. The couple continues to prioritise daily life with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, especially as they settle into Forest Lodge — their new long-term home in Windsor Great Park.

Sources say the move has brought a calm the family deeply needed, describing the shift as the “fresh start” that signaled brighter days ahead.