Princess Kate celebrates cancer patient’s win as she marks end of her treatment in emotional hospital visit
The Princess of Wales has paid a visit to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, where she stood next to a woman – who has been suffering with cancer – as she rang the bell to mark the end of her treatment
Princess Kate visits The Christie cancer treatment centre in Manchester
Kate, Princess of Wales has travelled to Manchester where she supported a woman who has celebrated as she marked the end of her gruelling cancer treatment, as she spoke about how the disease “changes you in mind, body and spirit”.
Kate paid a visit to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust to highlight the healing power of holistic care, alongside clinical care, for people living with and beyond cancer. While in the hospital, Kate met 30-year-old Claire Lorente, who was marking the last day of her treatment after a battle with breast cancer.
Kate immediately embraced Claire in a hug as she exclaimed: “Well done, well done you. What a journey. Well done, you’ve been amazing. It’s tough. How long has it been for you?” Claire, overcome with emotion, then told the future queen about her own cancer journey.
Kate met a woman who was marking the end of her cancer treatment(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Kate kept a comforting hand on Claire’s arm as spoke, before the princess turned her attention to Claire’s partner Pablo and gave him a hug. The Princess of Wales said: “Well done. I know, it’s just as hard for family and loved ones. For the children, my parents alongside. You go through it with us.”
The future queen then turned her attention to Claire’s baby, eight-month-old baby boy Enzo, giving him a sweet touch and saying: “Isn’t mummy brave!”
Claire then joined hands with her husband as she rang the bell to signify the end of her treatments, with applause ringing out as Kate clapped, looking emotional, and said: “This is your day!”
After the emotional meeting, Claire said: “It was very overwhelming. Finishing the treatment itself was a massive thing so obviously sharing with the Princess was overwhelming but absolutely brilliant at the same time.”
Kate comforted Claire as she spoke about her cancer journey(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror/PA Wire)
“It’s finished my chemotherapy journey off and starts my next step. She asked me how long the treatment had been going and and said how far I’ve come. My journey is not over but feels like I’ve finished a part of it and feels like I’ve come so far.“It was an amazing lifetime thing to share it with her and I’m never going to get to do it again. I don’t think anyone else will experience what I experienced with her. It was such a special moment with my friends and family and I’m never going to forget it. It was an amazing moment.”
Claire Lorente’s mum, Nicola Barnes, revealed to the Mirror that she rang the same bell at the Christie two years ago, after she received treatment for kidney and ovarian cancer at the hospital. Nicola said: “I’ve just got back, it was amazing, we are all so happy.”
After being cheered through the reception and corridors, Kate – wearing a blue dress and bee earrings in a nod to the Manchester ‘worker bee’ symbol – then spent time in the Oak Road Treatment Centre with patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Speaking to a patient, Kate said: “Sorry to bring so many people down, I know it’s a very personal time. How are you?” Chatting to another she said: “How are you managing? What the human body can put up with is amazing.” When one patient said he “couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife”, Kate replied: “I was just saying, it’s hard for the loved ones.”She added: “You need to support yourself alongside all the things you can’t control. Your body changes so much, not just physically emotionally, the deeper side of ourselves.”
Claire held hands with her husband Pablo as they rang the bell, with Kate cheering them on (Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror/PA Wire)
“They’re doing the work alongside the chemo here; and we want to celebrate that – they do an incredible job. It’s so hard, it’s so hard for the families. It puts so much in perspective and you hold onto what’s important.”She added: “It changes your perspective. Your body changes so much, not just physically but emotionally, the deeper side of ourselves. It’s so fantastic that in this clinical setting, you have these services alongside. It’s so nice as a patient that you have this agency to take control of your wellbeing and recovery.”
Kate then met former patient Neil Neaverson, 60, who is now self-mediating acupuncture after finding it helpful while being treated at the hospital.
Speaking to Neil she said: “Cancer diagnosis is deeply personal, being able to tailor it to the patients needs is fantastic and allows you to live a happy, healthy life beyond treatment and diagnosis. Cancer changes you in so many ways, emotionally and physiological too. It changes you in mind body and spirit.”
Baby Enzo also had a chance to ring the bell(Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
The Christie is the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe and the first in the UK to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre. At the centre, Kate spoke with patients who were receiving their routine treatment. The princess then visited the art room where she met resident artist Patricia Mountford, as she was invited to join a session to learn how creative expression can help recovery and nurture mental health.
Speaking to Patricia about the importance of “creativity” and recovery, Kate said: “Finding ways whatever they may be to explore the change that cancer diagnosis brings and how that deeply personal journey. Trying to understand that deep sense of self, creativity such a wonderful way to explore that. Everyone’s cancer journey is so deeply personal.”
The future queen also met gardener Phil Walker to discover how the landscape of the wellbeing garden gives patients and staff an opportunity to pause and reflect outside their wards. Finally, she visited the Christie’s Teenage and Young Adult unit to learn about the therapeutic, social and recreational activities designed to support young people.
She discussed having the holistic and complementary therapies saying: “For me having therapy really helps. It’s amazing to have this space. It’s about looking after your mind, body and spirit! I love the fact there is a real focus on quality of life. It makes a difference to patient’s recovery and having that sense of hope beyond life inside these walls, it’s vital.”
Kate wore a blue dress and beige heels on the dreary day in Manchester(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in 2024(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
After the visit drew to a close, Kate took to Instagram to share a photo of her emotional meeting with Claire, as she wrote in the caption: “Thank you to everyone at The Christie for such a moving visit today. Meeting patients, families and staff was a powerful reminder that healing is about so much more than treatment alone. A cancer diagnosis affects every part of life, in mind, body and the deeper part of ourselves. The way we process fear, uncertainty and change is deeply personal.
“The Christie’s commitment to holistic care, from art therapy and wellbeing spaces to emotional and spiritual support, helps people navigate not only illness, but the profound impact it can have on quality of life. These services empower patients to play an active role in their recovery and wellbeing, reminding us that care should always be centred on the whole person. Thank you for sharing your stories with me, and for the compassion, creativity and dedication shown every day across the hospital.”
The specialist centre was founded in 1892 and is known for its complementary and holistic therapies, which can help alleviate symptoms common with diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These can include stress, depression, fear, worry and anxiety induced nausea. The Christie also hosts drop-in art classes, a wellbeing garden and a chaplaincy service.
Kate’s visit comes after she joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at St James’ Palace on Tuesday night for a reception celebrating the crucial work of Cancer Research UK.
The princess spoke to patients as they received their treatment (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
The event was hosted by the King as patron of Cancer Research and marked the charity’s 125th anniversary and saw the royals meet researchers, clinicians, volunteers and partners involved in Cancer Research UK’s prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Both Charles and Kate were diagnosed with undisclosed types of cancer in 2024. Kate underwent chemotherapy after abdominal surgery, and announced in January last year that she was in remission.
She previously spoke about her experience in a World Cancer Day message in February and described the emotional impact of her illness. She said a cancer journey can involve “moments of fear and exhaustion” as well as periods of strength and recovery.
Kate has slowly eased back into royal duties since she announced her remission. She recently carried out her first overseas royal visit since facing cancer and headed over to Italy for a solo working trip as part of her early years work.
