Kate opens up about cancer
The Princess of Wales says it’s been a rollercoaster of recovery
After cancelling her appearance at Ascot, the Princess of Wales has spoken candidly about her cancer journey. She was attending a cancer centre at Colchester Hospital, on Wednesday, helping plant her namesake Catherine’s Rose at its RHS Wellbeing Garden.
She spoke about the pressure of having to put on a “brave face”, when everybody, “expects you to be better”, to “crack on, get back to normal… But that’s not the case at all”. Instead, Catherine says, you have to take time to find your “new normal”.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal’, but actually the phase afterwards is really difficult,” she said. “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to. And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment I think is really valuable.”
The centre offers a range of therapies for cancer patients, including reflexology and community groups and Catherine was enthusiastic about the idea, telling a therapist she had had acupuncture.
It’s the most Catherine has revealed about her cancer journey, saying it’s “life-changing for anyone… it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times. And to have a place like this to have the support network, through creativity and singing or gardening, whatever it might be, is so valuable and it’s great this community has it. It would be great if lots of communities had this kind of support.”
Catherine looked fabulous as always, in a Blaze Milano blazer, Ralph Lauren striped shirt, brown pants and Veja trainers. She was “celebrating the healing power of nature at the RHS Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital,” Kensington Palace posted on Instagram, adding the princess was, “grateful to everyone who helped create this special space for wellbeing, and to all those working and volunteering here to support patients. Thank you to those too who generously shared their stories of recovery.”
Royals head to Wimbledon
From Princess Beatrice to Lady Gabriella Kingston, the royals are flocking to London’s SW19 famous tennis courts. As the first week of Wimbledon draws to a close, the Royal Box at Centre Court hosted many royal family members.
On the opening day, we were delighted to see the widowed Gabriella having a great time with her friend Robert Denning. Also there on the first day, Sarah Ferguson and daughter, Beatrice. This was the Duchess of York’s first Royal Box appearance in decades, her last time being in 1988 alongside Diana, Princess of Wales.
On day two, Lady Rose Gilman, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, was in the Box, whereas Lord Frederick Windsor was not but still having a great time. His mother Princess Michael of Kent the only royal to attend on day three. The next day saw her husband Prince Michael in the Royal Box, as was Lady Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent.
We’re looking forward to week two and, fingers crossed, Catherine, the royals’ top tennis fan and patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, will show up at the tournament - and bring along Charlotte, George or Louis!
King and Queen’s happy Holyrood Week
It was a busy three days of engagements in Scotland last week, as Charles and Camilla enjoyed Holyrood Week (also called Royal Week), the annual July visit celebrating Scottish culture, community and achievement.
The beginning of the week started on Tuesday at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with an ancient ceremony which sees the sovereign greeted with pipes, drums and a guard of honour as he is presented with the keys to the City of Edinburgh.
One of the engagements saw Charles and Camilla braving a rainy day in Kirkcaldy to mark the centenary of the town’s war memorial. They also opened a new Cairn, designed as a time capsule.
It’s the end of the Liz Line
The Royal train, so beloved by the late Queen, has been decommissioned, it was announced this week. The King will use it until 2027, after which it’s hoped it will become an attraction. “The Royal train has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved. But in moving forwards, we must not be bound by the past,” Keeper of the Privy Purse, James Chalmers, said. “The time has come to bid the fondest of farewells as we seek to be disciplined and forward looking in our allocation of funding. Before it finally goes out of service, it is our hope that the train will make further visits to parts of the UK, while discussions will begin on finding a long-term home where some particularly historic elements might go on public display.” Queen Victoria was the first monarch to travel by train, in 1842, then commissioned her own carriages in 1869. Queen Elizabeth II loved it, once travelling with Meghan on it, and if you want to see what it’s like inside, watch the video above.
Inspired to take your own luxury sleeper train? Subscribe to this week’s The British Travel List, by Kerry.
Wine time for Meghan
It’s been another busy week in Montecito as the entrepreneurial Duchess launched her new rosé on Diana’s birthday - July 1. The wine joins her other As Ever goodies, such as the flower sprinkles, jam, shortbread mix and hibiscus tea. Obviously, it’s sold out like everything else on the site (annoying, we know) and was only available to buy in the States. According to the press release, the wine has “soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality and a lasting finish”. Hmm, if you’ve been lucky to get your hands on Meghan’s rosé, let us know in the comments section below what you think of it.