Catherine completes Three Peaks Challenge to ‘explore life beyond’ cancer diagnosis
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has completed the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the hospital where she was treated for cancer, describing it as a “chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back”.
She completed the endurance event, which sees people climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales over 24 hours, to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The princess revealed she was having cancer treatment in March 2024, and said she was in remission at the start of 2025.
On Sunday, she said she wanted to support “holistic healthcare” for people with cancer, describing it as a way to improve “wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time”.
Writing on social media, alongside a picture of herself at the summit of Ben Nevis, she said: “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body.
“It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life.
“I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone.”
She continued: “Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare.
“Every individual is different, and ensuring there is a whole person approach to care enables those living through cancer to manage the deeply personal challenge of diagnosis.
“Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients’ ability to maintain their wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time.”
At the completion of the challenge in Wales, the princess was met by members of her family including the Prince of Wales, her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her brother James.
When the princess announced her cancer diagnosis, she described it as a “huge shock” and said she had been through an “incredibly tough couple of months”.
Details of her cancer were not disclosed, but Kensington Palace said at the time it was confident the princess would make a full recovery.
Announcing that she was in remission around a year later, she expressed her “relief”. She has since returned to royal duties.
She climbed Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland, and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in Wales over this weekend.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity launched a fundraising page for the princess’s walk, which it said would “support more people with cancer to benefit from holistic care”.
Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said they were “honoured” to have the Prince and Princess of Wales as joint patrons.
She continued: “The princess’s commitment to The Royal Marsden stems from a deep empathy for those facing similar challenges, and we are immensely grateful for this generous support that will make a difference to the lives of so many cancer patients and their families.”
