Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, visited the London hospital where she received treatment for cancer on Tuesday to personally thank medics for their care and support, her office said.

Kate, 43, underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy after major abdominal surgery a year ago revealed the presence of cancer, meaning she was only well enough to carry out a handful of public engagements for the remainder of 2024.

On her first solo trip since returning to official duties, Kate paid a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London where she herself had undergone treatment which concluded in September.

She met patients and staff and spoke of the care she had received at the hospital, with the trip also marking an announcement that she has become joint patron of the specialist cancer unit with her husband, the heir to the throne Prince William.

She told one patient the impact on her family had been "really, really tough".

"The princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world leading care and treatment the Marsden provides," a Kensington Palace spokesman said.

In highly personal video messages, Kate has spoken of how hard her illness had been on her, William and their three young children, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Princes George, 11, and Louis, 6.

"The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you," she said in an update to mark the end of her chemotherapy course.

Last year saw a traumatic 12 months for the royal family with King Charles also undergoing treatment for cancer. A Buckingham Palace source has said his treatment was moving in a positive direction and would continue this year.