In a rare radio interview, Prince William described Princess Kate as resilient after revealing her cancer was in remission, and said she’s beginning to edge back into travel as she continues recovery.
When Prince William sat down for a rare radio appearance on “Heart Breakfast,” he didn’t talk like a prince delivering a message—he talked like a husband trying to put words around what the last two years have cost their family.
“She’s an amazing mom, an amazing wife and, literally, our family couldn’t cope without her,” the Prince of Wales said Friday, May 22, addressing hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston. “So, she’s been absolutely stunning, brilliant.”
William’s comments came with a clear backdrop: Princess Kate’s cancer recovery. In January 2025. she revealed that her cancer was in remission—an announcement that followed earlier months when her condition was first made public. And in the week before William spoke. Kate had returned from a work trip to the Italian city of Reggio Emilia.
That visit mattered to William, not just because it went smoothly, but because it suggested her return to public life is slowly becoming possible again. “She’d been looking forward to the Italian trip a lot,” he said. “And so, I’m really glad it went really well.”
Kate’s cancer journey began to take shape publicly in March 2024. when Kensington Palace and the Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer after abdominal surgery. and was undergoing a “course of preventive chemotherapy treatment.” About a year after that announcement. Kate said last January that her cancer was officially in remission. In a statement at the time. she said she was “looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. ” while also acknowledging that “it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”.
On “Heart Breakfast,” William said she is doing the hard part now: rebuilding routine while still protecting her health. He described her as “amazing” and said, “She’s been through so much in the last couple of years, particularly.”
Kate’s trip to Reggio Emilia was framed around early childhood development. During the visit. she met local families. educators and community members. and her schedule included a stop at the Anna Frank School. William said she approached the trip with a seriousness that surprised even those closest to her. “She wanted to go and do lots of research,” he said. “She spends, God knows how much time now, looking through all the paperwork. She’s a proper pro on early years.”.
He added, “Most evenings, I’m fighting to get past in the bedroom, what paperwork that she’s got lined up, ready to read. So, I’m so pleased it went well for her, and yeah, I think she came back buzzing.”
The emotional weight of that return to travel was visible in Kate’s own words afterward. In a May 14 Instagram post. she reflected on the experience. writing that she had “seen firsthand the power of nature and creativity that put human connection at the center of a child’s world.” She continued: “I have had such a deeply moving and unforgettable time here. ” and thanked the people of Reggio Emilia for welcoming her into a culture of care with “such warmth and generosity.”.
For all the progress, William also made clear there is still a balancing act. After the successful trip, he said on “Heart Breakfast” that Kate is “edging herself” back into travel engagements as she continues her cancer recovery.
“Away trips like that take a lot out of you,” William said. “So, we have to balance that, make sure she’s OK and rested, but she’s in good form.”
The sequence of Kate’s public updates—diagnosis revealed in March 2024. remission confirmed in January 2025. and a work trip to Reggio Emilia followed by a personal reflection on Instagram—now lands with a human detail William has chosen to emphasize: even when she can go. she still has to pace herself.
On Friday, May 22, he offered praise that sounded less like ceremony and more like relief: Kate has returned, she has recovered enough to take on meaningful engagements, and their family is trying to adjust—slowly, carefully—back toward a “new normal” that still doesn’t arrive all at once.
Prince William Princess Kate Heart Breakfast cancer remission Kensington Palace radio interview Reggio Emilia trip early childhood development