After facing an incredibly challenging year, Princess Kate has put her best foot forward with her return to work, and is channelling the ‘legacy’ of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, an expert has claimed

In her first solo engagement in a year, Princess Kate was channeling none other than the late Princess Diana, an expert has claimed.

After an incredibly difficult 12 months, which saw the future Queen take a break from public life as she underwent a course of chemotherapy, Kate returned to solo duties last week with a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital, where she received her own treatment.

The surprise visit saw Kate enter the building through its front entrance for the first time, after making discreet visits for her own chemotherapy – something she said was “quite nice” – and she met with patients and staff whilst she was there.

It was a visibly emotional first outing for the Princess of Wales as she chatted and hugged patients, fuelled by the empathy of her first-hand experience of the cancer journey. At one point, whilst speaking to Tina Amudou, the mother of a 19-year-old patient who was in the ICU, she wished “there was more I could do to help” and reminded her that “there is light at the end of that tunnel…You are in the very best of hands.”

For one royal expert- editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward – Kate’s hands-on, empathetic approach showed that she is determinedly carrying on the “legacy” of the late Princess Diana, who last held the title of Princess of Wales.

“It was incredibly genuine – she really cared, and they obviously felt it too,” the expert said to People magazine about Kate’s approach to her first solo engagement after her time away. “She made them feel special. It is unusual with royalty – but you certainly had that with Diana, and now we have Kate. She has really got it.”

Kate chats to cancer patient Katherine Field at the Royal Marsden ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the patients who Kate chatted with that day, 45-year-old mother Katherine Field, certainly agreed that Kate’s empathetic approach had a massive impact and that the future Queen had none of the formality associated with royalty during their conversation, and instead felt like she was simply chatting with a pal.

“It was just like talking to a friend about a really horrible time in life and how you find ways of getting through it. She is very special – to be able to connect with people so quickly and so empathetically,” Katherine told the outlet.

In another move upholding the late Diana’s legacy – who was known for her informal and personable approach when she conducted her engagements – Kate was announced as the new Joint Patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside her husband William, who has held the position of President of the specialist hospital since 2007.

Before him, it was Diana who held the position of President from 1987.

After the visit, Kate posted on her social media accounts announcing that she was in “remission” from cancer and expressing her “heartfelt thanks…to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything” as well as her gratitude for the excellent care she received at the hospital.