Princess Catherine Middleton has captured the world's attention by sharing the encouraging news that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment. This marks a difficult moment in her life but also a turning point toward recovery—a huge clue about her health. However, the news might not be as cheerful as it seems. While her comeback is exciting, some caution is advised.
In the latest reports, the princess is quietly preparing to return to some royal duties over the next few months. The biggest and most promising sign of hope comes from what is often a bane of normal working lives—meetings. Hopes for an autumn comeback are growing, as Princess Catherine’s private secretary, Tom White, her assistant private secretary, Natalie Burrows, and the Wales' communication secretary, Lee Thompson, have been holding more regular meetings with her to plan for the future.
There’s even a chance we might see her back on the royal stage sooner than expected. If her health allows, she could be joining the rest of the working royal family at the National Service of Remembrance on November 10th, possibly wearing one of her signature black hats. This bit of good news comes after a year of Buckingham and Kensington Palace staff frequently having to adjust her schedule.
The Princess of Wales has been cautiously open to discussing a return to official engagements, though even months from now, the full extent of her comeback remains unclear. While there’s reason to celebrate, a slightly less optimistic view lingers. Friends of the princess emphasize that uncertainty around her good days and bad days still persists. Recovery is a long journey, they say, and this remains a key reality for her.
The remembrance event, while a hopeful possibility, is still something Catherine might only be well enough to attend. Those two words—*long journey*—don't suggest a clear end in sight for the difficult chapter of cancer treatments. The mention of *good days and bad days* reinforces the idea that her full return to a regular royal schedule could still be far off.
How far off is the question. Catherine appears to be taking a different approach than King Charles, who, after his own cancer diagnosis, returned to public duties after just three months away. Chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to attack tumors, is often given to treat cancer directly or to shrink a tumor before surgery. It can also be used preventatively, aiming to reduce the chance of cancer returning. A study from 2019 showed that preventive chemotherapy could decrease returning cases by as much as 46%.
Preventive chemotherapy, also called adjuvant chemotherapy, works to stop cancer from coming back once the main tumor has been removed. Cancer can sometimes spread to other parts of the body, a process called metastasis, where tiny cancerous cells break off and take root elsewhere. These new cancers can be hard to detect, so oncologists often advise patients to undergo preventative chemotherapy to eliminate any lingering traces of the disease. It is most commonly delivered through an IV drip or tablets and typically lasts between 3 to 6 months.
Reports suggest that Catherine will be taking a much more gradual and measured approach, unlike the more cut-and-dry, one-swoop style. This strategy may mean attending key royal events like the Remembrance Day commemoration or her annual Christmas carol service, but any kind of full comeback may not happen anytime soon—certainly not this year.
