Since sharing her cancer diagnosis nearly two years ago, Kate Middleton has largely stayed out of the public eye to focus on recovery. Recently, she began returning to royal duties, appearing at the Trooping the Colour event with Prince William and their three children.

Royal correspondent Rebecca English noted that the experience deeply changed the Princess of Wales. “Cancer impacts on your perspective,” a source said, adding that family and their children “continue to be at the center of their universe.” Both Kate and William are reportedly seeking “ways they can balance themselves as parents with being the Prince and Princess of Wales.”

During a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex, Kate spoke candidly about her recovery. “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult,” she said.

She added that finding stability takes time. “You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times.”