**Princess of Wales Returns to Public Eye During Wellbeing Garden Visit**
The Princess of Wales, Catherine, has made her first public appearance following a period away from royal engagements, after missing this year’s Royal Ascot for the second time in succession. Her absence from the high-profile event was attributed to her ongoing recovery from recent cancer treatment, a journey which she has shared candidly with the public.
On Wednesday, 2 July, the Princess visited Colchester Hospital in Essex, where she participated in an official engagement focused on the importance of wellbeing spaces within healthcare environments. This marks a gradual return to public duty for Catherine, who has been carefully balancing her royal responsibilities with her health needs since announcing her remission at the beginning of the year.
The centrepiece of her visit was the Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital, an initiative designed in collaboration with the acclaimed landscape gardener Adam Frost. The project aims to create a restorative environment that benefits both NHS staff and patients, underlining the growing recognition of the role such spaces play in supporting mental and physical health outcomes in hospitals.
During her visit, Princess Catherine engaged with a range of stakeholders involved in the garden, including NHS staff and the patients the garden is intended to serve. Notably, the garden is the product of a partnership between the Royal Horticultural Society, the Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, and NHS Charities Together—an organisation for which both the Prince and Princess of Wales act as joint patrons.
In her conversations with staff and patients, Catherine reflected on her own experiences, offering words that resonated with many who are navigating life after cancer treatment. “People put on a brave face during treatment. Once it’s over, you think perhaps things will get back to normal, but the reality is often much more complex,” she stated, underscoring the invisible challenges many face during recovery.
The Princess further highlighted the importance of support during this vulnerable post-treatment phase, observing that guidance and compassion can make an immense difference. She described the process as a ‘roller coaster’—echoing the feelings of uncertainty and adjustment faced by those undergoing similar journeys. Her remarks shed light not only on her personal road to recovery but also the broader realities faced by cancer survivors and their families.
Beyond the garden, Catherine visited the hospital’s Cancer Wellbeing Centre. Here, she listened to the stories of patients and staff, discussing how initiatives like therapeutic gardens are yielding measurable benefits: promoting health, preventing decline, and accelerating recovery. The Wellbeing Garden serves as a sanctuary amidst the challenges of illness, offering a sense of calm and hope.
The garden, which formally opened in July 2024, stands as a testament to collaboration between the healthcare sector and charities dedicated to patient welfare. Additionally, the site’s importance extends further, forming part of ongoing research for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Blueprint for Wellbeing Gardens, a model aimed at influencing hospital garden designs across the country.
Adding a personal touch to the occasion, the Princess participated in planting a new variety of rose named the ‘Catherine Rose’, which has been specifically cultivated in her honour. Fifty of these roses were contributed to the Colchester garden, while 500 others will be donated to wellbeing and community sites throughout the UK this year, including locations that support cancer patients and people living with spinal injuries.
Significantly, proceeds from the commercial sale of the ‘Catherine Rose’ will benefit the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, supporting further research and treatment for cancer patients—a cause that has deep personal resonance for the Princess, who underwent care at the Royal Marsden last year.
The return of the Princess of Wales to her public work has been greeted with a wave of support, her visit to Colchester offering hope and encouragement to those facing health battles. Through her advocacy for wellbeing initiatives and open sharing of her own experience, Catherine continues to shape important national conversations around cancer recovery and community health.