Kate Middleton Is ‘Amazingly Brave’ and ‘Doing So Well,’ Royal Family Member Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Catherine, Princess of Wales during a visit to SportsAid at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on Oct. 12, 2023 in Marlow, England.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate Middletonis garnering public praise from a fellow royal family member for how she has handled herself during a difficult period of her life.

Sophie Winklemanis married to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent and second cousin ofKing Charles. In a new interview withHello!,Sophie called the Princess of Wales “wonderful,” and mentioned she last sawKate at Wimbledon— one of the Princess of Wales’ few public appearances throughout 2024.

“It was so cheering to see her, beautiful as ever,” Sophie said of seeing Kate on July 14. “She’s been amazingly brave and is doing so well.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales waves to fans during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London, England.Shi Tang/Getty

Shi Tang/Getty

After a planned abdominal surgery in January, Kate, 42, announced that she had beendiagnosed with cancerin a video message on March 22. On Sept. 9, she revealed in a second video message thatshe had completed chemotherapy, but added, “my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”

Since her announcement on Sept. 9, Kate has taken two meetings at Windsor Castle —the first on Sept. 17, and the seconda week later on Sept. 24— and visited theEnglish National Ballet on Sept. 26, when she privately attended a matinee performance ofGiselle.

King Charles, patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, and Queen Camilla arriving for a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on April 30, 2024.Press Association via AP Images

Press Association via AP Images

“Duty and service run through him like a stick of rock,” Sophie said. “It just doesn’t occur to him to rest, something which those who love him are desperate for him to do.”

She added, “He’s battling cancer and doesn’t give himself a moment off. He’s a hugely inspirational man.”

Though Sophie herself isn’t a working royal, she’s in close proximity to those who are. “The central royal family work very hard,” she toldHello!. “It’s not an easy existence, having a spotlight on you from the second you’re born. I count pretty much every one of them as a trusted friend. I’m very lucky.”

Sophie Winkleman attends the English National Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’ Opening Night at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London on June 6, 2019.Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Formally, Sophie is known as Lady Frederick Windsor and has been since marrying into the royal family in 2009. Her husband Frederick — known to his friends as Freddie — is a second cousin once removed ofPrince WilliamandPrince Harryand is 53rd in line to the throne. He works outside of the family at JPMorganChase as an executive director, according toTatler, and Sophie is an actress who works under her maiden name, Winkleman.

Lord Frederick Windsor and Sophie Winkleman attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, 2022 in London, England.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

“We left two different parties and went for the same taxi,” Sophie, 44, toldHello!of meeting her now-husband, adding that he recognized her from her work inPeep Show. “He said, ‘You’re Big Suze. I love you!’ I laughed and asked the cab to take me somewhere. He pretended he was going to the same place. We shared the taxi, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Sophie Winkleman and Lord Frederick Windsor attend day four of Royal Ascot 2024 at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2024 in Ascot, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Sophie is particularly close toPrincess Eugenie, who is a godmother to the Windsors’ first child, Maud, born in 2013. Sophie also served as a bridesmaid for Eugenie when she marriedJack Brooksbankin 2018.

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As Kate gradually returns to work while continually prioritizing her health, she is thought to hope to attend the annual Remembrance Day service on Nov. 10. She is also looking ahead to her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in December, which was the topic of discussion at her Sept. 24 meeting at Windsor Castle. (Her Sept. 17 meeting focused on work surrounding early childhood development, a cause the Princess of Wales has long been passionate about.)

“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus,” she said in her Sept. 9 video message, filmed alongside husband Prince William, 42, and childrenPrince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 9, andPrince Louis, 6.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024.Getty Images

Getty Images

She added in the video, “I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”

source: people.com