Kate takes on major royal responsibility after deeply personal remarks about cancer battle

After revealing her struggle to “function normally” in a stunningly candid chat, Kate is set to take on a major royal duty.

IN LONDON

Just days after opening up about the challenges of adjusting to normalcy following cancer treatment, the Princess of Wales is taking on a major new royal duty.

It’s been announced that Kate will join Prince William in greeting French President Emmanual Macron and his wife, First Lady Brigitte Macron, as they arrive in the UK on Tuesday for their state visit.

The pair will fly into RAF Northolt and then be hosted at Windsor Castle for their two-day trip, marking the first time the royal residence has been used over Buckingham Palace for such an occasion in more than a decade.

Kate during a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex this week. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP

The iconic central London palace is currently undergoing extensive refurbishments.

Kate and William will also join the King and Queen in taking a carriage ride with the president and his wife through Windsor on Tuesday.

That evening, they will be officially welcomed to Britain with a state banquet, although Kate’s attendance is yet to be confirmed.

The president is also set to address parliament and have lunch with British prime minister Keir Starmer and their wives, before being given a personal tour of items relating to France in the Royal Collection.

Kate joined other senior royals in taking part in the Ceremonial Welcome for Qatar’s Emir and his wife in December last year. Picture: Kin Cheung/Pool/AFP

The high-profile royal engagements come just a couple of weeks after Kate was forced to pull out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot at the last minute.

She had been listed in the official guide as travelling in the second carriage of the royal procession, alongside Prince William, after having to skip the 2024 event amid her cancer battle.

Local media reported she was “disappointed” at having to miss this year too, but was having to “find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements”.

It’s not been confirmed whether Kate will be at the state banquet in the Macron’s honour. Picture: Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP

On Wednesday, Kate shared a harrowing insight into the realities of her health battle behind closed doors during a moving visit to a cancer treatment centre.

She explained she’d had to put on a “brave face” throughout and following her treatment, describing life afterwards as “really difficult”.

Kate also admitted she’d found it hard to “function normally at home” as she recovered.

Back in January, Kate revealed she was in remission from cancer, which she had first publicly disclosed last March.

In September, she released an emotional video message, featuring personal footage of herself with William and their three children, opening up about the challenges they’d all been privately battling, but also proudly revealing she had completed her treatment.

Just weeks later, and amid her gradual return to public duties, Kate joined William in welcoming the Emir of Qatar and his first wife, Sheikha Jawaher, to Britain for their state visit.

Originally published as Kate takes on major royal responsibility after deeply personal remarks about cancer battle