Kate Middleton’s cancer battle has sent her “to hell and back”. But the Princess of Wales’s slow and careful return to the public eye is no accident; it’s part of a deliberate effort to rebuild both her health and her sense of balance, according to one insider who understands the full extent of her battle.

At 43, Princess Kate is said to be in remission following an intense, months-long battle with cancer. Friends and palace insiders say her recovery is far from over.

“She is fortunate to even be speaking of recovery,” said a source, adding, “as anyone who has been through that experience will tell you, you can feel very unwell for a long time afterwards. It can take years (to recover)“.

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The princess was seriously unwell in the lead-up to her planned abdominal surgery in January 2024, which later led to the discovery of her illness.

During treatment, she underwent chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital and a source has now revealed that the Princess of Wales had a port inserted under her skin to deliver the medication directly to a vein near her heart.

Like many patients, she became emotionally “attached” to the device, an invisible but constant reminder of the high-stakes treatment she was enduring, the Daily Mail reported.

“It offers no cast-iron guarantee of success, even if you are a royal.”

While the public has seen a glowing Princess at several recent events such as Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter ceremony, palace aides are quietly reminding onlookers that her full return is a “work in progress.”

Her recent last-minute withdrawal from Royal Ascot, which she announced just minutes after her name appeared on the official carriage list, was a stark reminder that she is still pacing her return.

Kensington Palace said the carriage list was released in error and only confirmed that the princess was “disappointed” not to attend and “has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing duties.”

Behind the scenes, sources say that balance is everything.

“She wants to find the right balance and work with a greater degree of flexibility than before,” one insider said.

“This is a woman who plays a very important role in the monarchy... but in order for her to do it, both now and in the future, she needs to get this right.”

The past year has also brought mental clarity.

“She knows more than ever what is important to her — and that she won’t be rushed on her journey back to full health,” a friend said.

Looking ahead, Princess Kate is expected to make a few key appearances this summer, including her role as patron at Wimbledon and at Windsor Castle on July 8 for a French state visit, the outlet reports. Whether she will attend the state banquet remains unclear.

Following those engagements, she and Prince William will retreat to Anmer Hall in Norfolk with their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — for a summer of cycling, sailing, and time away from the public gaze.

They will later travel to Balmoral to join the King and Queen for the traditional royal summer in Scotland.

“She’s quite strict now at working out what she needs to be at and what she doesn’t,” one source said.

There are also family decisions ahead, including the schooling of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. One long-standing expectation is that Prince George will follow Prince William to Eton, and Princess Charlotte to Marlborough, Princess Kate’s alma mater.

As for travel, a foreign tour this year is said to be “not expected,” though the door hasn’t been closed entirely.

A UK-based program of royal visits is more likely, with the princess reportedly keen to do more regional engagements after her low-key trip to the Inner Hebrides in April.

Even when she is not seen publicly, royal insiders say that she remains highly engaged behind the scenes with her staff and her lifelong commitment to early childhood development.

Comparisons to the King’s more visible schedule have emerged in recent months, with some observers noting that Charles, also battling cancer, has maintained a full calendar.

But those close to both royals caution against making direct comparisons.

“Every patient is different... and people have no way of absolutely knowing what is going on behind the scenes.”