The Princess of Wales made a surprise visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea on Friday to see how funds raised through her gruelling Three Peaks Challenge are being used to support people living with cancer.
Catherine, 44, met patients undergoing treatment and staff involved in holistic care, which considers a person’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing alongside clinical treatment.
The visit followed her completion of the National Three Peaks Challenge in June, when she climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, within 24 hours in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
She undertook the challenge alone, with support from Mountain Rescue England and Wales. Her family met her at the end of the route in Wales after she had completed around 23 miles of walking and more than 10,000ft of ascent.
The Royal Marsden said the money raised will help develop a new Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery, as well as fund research into how complementary care can work alongside cancer treatment.
Princess of Wales thanks Royal Marsden staff
During her visit, Catherine was shown the proposed site of the centre and heard about plans to expand personalised support for patients during treatment and after they leave hospital.
She also spoke with people currently receiving care about the difference that services such as nutritional advice, emotional support, physical activity and therapeutic treatments can make during recovery.
Thanking the Princess for her fundraising, Royal Marsden chairman Sir Douglas Flint praised her commitment to the hospital, where she received treatment following her cancer diagnosis in 2024.
Catherine replied: “This was my small way of being able to give back and say thank you to you.
“I had incredible care here and support from a huge team and I’m really, really grateful on a personal level. But also the holistic care, the treatments and therapeutic support on the outside is so important. It makes a big difference.”
She added that nature, good nutrition and continued support could help people manage “the trials and tribulations of medical treatments”.
“It made a big difference to me and it made a huge difference to lots of patients who I’ve spoken to,” she said. “Thank you and well done. I think it will be transformative not only for patients but for families too.”
The Princess became joint patron of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust with the Prince of Wales in January 2025, following a visit to the Chelsea hospital during which she met patients and staff.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity said the new centre would aim to improve access to holistic care for more people during and beyond their cancer treatment. It is also intended to help develop evidence about how such support can improve wellbeing, resilience and quality of life.
When she announced the Three Peaks Challenge, Catherine said cancer affected far more than the body and that recovery required “more than medicine alone”. She described the challenge as an opportunity to explore life beyond her diagnosis while supporting others facing the disease.
The National Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours. Kensington Palace said Catherine was believed to be the first member of the Royal Family to complete it.
