Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, confirms she is in remission from cancer

“It’s really hard,” Catherine said of chemotherapy. “It’s such a shock.”

A palace official said the purpose of Catherine’s visit to the Royal Marsden was not only to thank the staff for their care, but also to highlight the “world-leading care and treatment provided by the Marsden.”

Prince William is already a royal patron of the hospital, which opened in 1851 and is the world’s first hospital exclusively dedicated to cancer diagnosis, research and treatment. Catherine has now been appointed joint patron with her husband.

Charles announced in February that he had also been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace has revealed little about his treatment or the status of his illness, although he has returned to a busy schedule of official duties.

On Monday, the palace announced that Charles will travel to Poland later this month to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp. Last year, the king traveled to Australia and Samoa, where he attended a meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth.

Catherine has approached her illness in more personal terms than her father-in-law, albeit with a similarly tight control over the level of disclosure. She announced the end of her chemotherapy in an emotional video that featured William and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” Catherine said in the video. “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you’ve never considered before, and thus a new perspective on everything.”