The Princess of Wales joined a celebration at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester on Thursday as a young mother completed her chemotherapy treatment. Kate hugged 30-year-old Claire Lorente, who rang a bell on the unit to mark the occasion, and told her: “Well done you. What a journey. It’s been a tough one, yeah?”
The visit was a surprise for Ms Lorente, her partner Pablo and son Enzo. Kate also embraced Pablo, saying: “Well done. It’s just as hard for the family and loved ones.” The princess joined well-wishers in encouraging a tearful Ms Lorente to ring the bell, saying: “You can do it.”
Kate, who revealed at the start of last year she was in remission after receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer, toured The Christie to see its holistic care services. The centre, one of Europe’s leading cancer hospitals, serves 3.2 million people and offers free art classes, a wellbeing garden and chaplaincy services.
The princess participated in an art session with six patients. Resident artist Patricia Mountfield said: “It can be very isolating for some people. We have patients who come in and forget about everything while they are in here.” Kate responded: “It changes you in so many ways physically but also emotionally and psychologically, and actually finding ways to express that and to explore that is quite difficult.”
Kate also visited the hospital’s Oak Road Treatment Centre, speaking to patients including 10-year-old Ruby Day, who is receiving treatment for osteosarcoma. She concluded her visit at the Teenage and Young Adult unit, which offers a music room, gym and lounge.
Following the visit, Kate posted on social media: “Thank you to everyone at The Christie for such a moving visit today. Meeting patients, families and staff was a powerful reminder that healing is about so much more than treatment alone.”
