Princess Kate makes big change to relations with ‘grey-haired suits’ at the palace after cancer fight, says royal expert

PRINCESS Kate has made a triumphant phased return to royal duties following her cancer diagnosis.

And according to a royal expert, the Princess of Wales’ health struggles have caused her to be “even more determined” and have changed how works with the “grey men of the palace.”

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!: “Kate has grown into a strong woman and we are seeing her take agency over her own life.

“In many ways she is continuing where her late mother-in-law, Diana, left off – refusing to be dictated to by ‘the grey men of the palace’.”

“It took Diana a long time to stand up for herself, but if you think about it, Kate has now been either associated with or an integral part of the royal family for longer than Diana was.

“She is championing causes that she has chosen, and I think her cancer diagnosis has made her even more determined to carry out her role in the way that she believes is most effective.”

It has now been just over a year since the princess was admitted to hospital for an operation on January 16, seven days after her 42nd birthday.

She spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after major abdominal surgery, before beginning chemotherapy.

Since then, the 43-year-old has remained largely out of the public eye.

But, she announced in September last year that her had finished chemotherapy and she would focus on being “cancer free” in a heartwarming video.

By the end of 2024, the Princess made more appearances including hosting her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.

Since we shared how Kate would be making a gradual return to duties from the New Year, she has done a number of outings.

This includes meeting Holocaust survivors at an emotional memorial event, and visiting Tŷ Hafan’s hospice near Cardiff, where she spent time with children, families and staff.

It is also understood tours abroad are “not on the table”, despite Prince William last year saying they might “have some more trips lined up”.

Instead, Kate’s “primary focus” will be her Centre for Early Childhood and UK-based engagements.

The Princess of Wales will also support the Royal Family at events such as Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot and the Remembrance Day commemorations.

Jennie added: “Both Kate and William are set on using their influence to try to repair the things that they believe are going wrong in modern society. They are both doing things in a new way, which perhaps the old guard of the palace might have found alarming.”

Speaking of Kate’s return to duties, a source said: “There is no huge reset button on her work and if you look to the back end of 2024 there was a gradual return of the Princess of Wales into more public engagements.

“That gradual return will continue into 2025 and it was an extremely warm and wonderful bookend to 2024 to see her at the carol service, and she continues that gradual return.”

William’s Valentine’s Day post

This comes as Prince William shared a sweet Valentine’s Day post to Princess Kate with a nod to their “hardest year”.

The royal, 42, posted an adorable picture of the couple sitting on a tree trunk, amidst a backdrop of beautiful woodland scenery.

Wills captioned the photograph, which shows Kate giggling as he kisses her cheek, with a simple red love heart.

Fans swooned over the candid snap and hailed “true love forever”.

The picture is a poignant nod to the pair’s “hardest year”, as it was taken from a video they released revealing Kate had finished chemotherapy.

The family also used a different shot from the same video in their Christmas card at the end of last year.

In November, William said the cancer diagnoses of his wife and dad King Charles were “brutal”, but he was “so proud” of both.

Asked on a trip to South Africa how his year had been, he replied: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful.

“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”