The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, was seen at Trooping the Colour in 2025. We all saw her smiling and strong, looking amazing in an aqua dress with little Princess Charlotte. But her journey back to full health isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not just the cancer that’s been tough on her. Sources and the doctors treating her have said she’s still got a lot to deal with.
Her recovery, thus, is taking its sweet time.
Back in January 2024, she had abdominal surgery. A few months later, in March, she posted on Instagram to tell us she had cancer. By January 2025, she had beaten it and was in remission, thanks to chemo. Even though the palace said she was fine, people started speculating again because she couldn’t be spotted at too many royal events.
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Behind the scenes, sources say fatigue, weakness, and mental burdens are still affecting her beyond the medical charts.
From royal family tensions and public scrutiny to past personal traumas, Kate Middleton’s life behind palace walls may be taking a bigger toll than we realize.
What Is Complicating Kate Middleton’s Healing?
Kate Middleton’s life may appear polished and privileged. Still, the Princess of Wales has endured more than her share of personal turmoil: emotional baggage doctors say can slow recovery.
One of the main issues is the rift between Kate’s husband, Prince William, and her brother-in-law, Prince Harry. The situation allegedly left Kate “frustrated by the family division.” This accelerated after Harry’s honest talk with the BBC in May, where he opened up about his concerns regarding the Royal Family’s role in his lack of security.
Though Kate is said to empathize with Harry, the family rift adds psychological strain.
Trying to mesh together four sources is interesting, so before I begin on Harry and Meghan’s engagement, I’d like to quote Scobie’s book Finding Freedom. It gives a clear view on Meghan’s thoughts.
“Although Kate and Meghan were close in age, they weren’t meeting each other at… pic.twitter.com/Y1brQbfqoR— Suburban Duchess (Not A True Royal) (@SuburbanDuchess) May 31, 2024
Public speculation surrounding William’s alleged 2019 affair (with rumours resurfacing in 2024 during Kate’s absence) has also taken a toll. While legally denied, the scandal caused deep personal pain for Kate. Kate was scared their children might read about it, and a US Weekly source revealed that she found it “painful.”
And then came the publication of Spare. Harry’s memoir painted Kate as “cold” and implicated her in the infamous 2005 Nazi costume scandal. Recounting a petty lip gloss incident with Meghan Markle, the book reopened old wounds.
Kate’s childhood, too, was no sanctuary. As author Katie Nicholl noted in Kate: The Future Queen, she was bullied at Downe House boarding school. This formative trauma shaped her stoic demeanor but left invisible scars.
Paparazzi, Cancer, and the Toll of Perfection
For someone so poised in public, Kate Middleton has also endured invasive attacks on her privacy. In 2012, topless photos taken without consent during a French holiday were published.
They prompted a £91,000 court fine against the media but left a scar.
Even Kate’s battle with cancer didn’t escape the conspiracy theorists. The term from her operation in January 2024 until she spoke about it openly in March had the internet buzzing with all kinds of ideas, which sure didn’t help ease her mind.
Finally, when she made her public appearance in June 2025, riding in a horse-drawn carriage with her kids and later joining King Charles III (who was also in recovery from cancer) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, it was clear she wasn’t quite herself yet. She looked fabulous in a Catherine Walker coat and her beloved pearl earrings. But the fact that she hadn’t been to a royal event before June clearly showed it wasn’t all plain sailing for her, recovery-wise.
“She’s giving what she can, but it’s clear she’s not ready for a full return,” one palace aide confided anonymously.
Her battle isn’t just with illness. It’s with trauma, expectations, and relentless public life. And that makes a 100% recovery more elusive than most will ever see.
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