REBECCA ENGLISH: Princess Kate’s visit to hospital she received cancer treatment marks measured return

From her moving video statement last March to September’s extraordinarily intimate family video, the Princess of Wales has shown admirable determination to speak about the devastating challenges of her “cancer journey” on her own terms.

I can reveal that her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London – where she announced she was in remission – was the next stage in a carefully calibrated plan to manage her recovery and measured return to official duties.

One that is being decided by Catherine herself, rather than palace courtiers, at every stage.

It is another example of the quiet, unhurried conviction the instinctively shy boarding school girl from Berkshire has shown since marrying into the royal family more than a decade ago – particularly in regards to her duties and the upbringing of her children.

And it is one she has always been determined should not be buffeted by knee-jerk reactions to public (or media) opinion, or even that of other family members – no mean feat in today’s instantly reactive, social media-dominated world.

Earlier this month I revealed people should not expect Catherine or her team to press a sudden “reset” button in January after the last 12 months, during which the princess has largely been absent from the public.

For the time being she would continue to put her family, not The Family, first.

That was confirmed to me again by a senior royal aide when discussing the princess’ upcoming engagement.

What was also made clear to me was that yesterday’s visit was the instinctive reaction of a woman who has been to hell and back but knows she has the benefit of an exceptional public platform to empathise with those going through the same physical and emotional strain – and to thank those working in our health services in challenging conditions to make patients’ lives more bearable.

Her decision has, of course, the full backing of her husband, William, who last week issued an extraordinary and unprecedented tribute to his wife on her 43rd birthday.

William is an emotional man in private but traditionally less comfortable showing those feelings publicly, and it was clear to anyone who knows him this was a sign of the huge emotional strain he has felt as a husband and father over the last year.

As I have often said when writing about both Catherine and the King’s respective cancer battles, both acknowledge the privileged position they occupy.

But cancer is a leveller and there is little one-upmanship to be had when it comes to the sheer terror of being told that you have a potentially fatal disease – and in the princess’s case, at such a relatively young age.

Listening to her talk to cancer patients – some actually undergoing chemotherapy while they spoke – it was clear Catherine wanted to focus on them, not herself.

When one couple complimented her on how “amazingly well” she and William had managed the situation with their children, she replied, “Oh, that’s kind” and moved on to ask about how the impact had been on them.

My understanding is this will continue to be her approach over the coming weeks and months.

If and when she is ready to tell us more, she will.

And until then she will continue to use her voice to amplify the experiences of those who can’t. And always in the way she – and nobody else – thinks is right.