Princess Kate made a surprise visit to see the Parachute Regiment on their cultural day – just hours after she spoke about her cancer battle and ‘new normal’ at Colchester Hospital
Katy Hallam and Charlotte Foster
21:58, 04 Jul 2025
(Image: supportourparas/Instagram)
Just hours after Princess Kate brought joy to staff and patients with a visit to the new Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital, discussing her cancer journey, it has been revealed that she made a second secret stop at another significant institution.
Photos of the Princess of Wales were shared by Support the Paras – the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces charity – as she joined them at their 2 PARA Cultural Day.
On Wednesday, Kate opened up about her cancer battle with patients and volunteers at Colchester Hospital, speaking for the first time about the extent of her intense cancer treatment.
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Following her visit, Kate attended another event that was not listed in the daily Court Circular.
In the photos shared by Support the Paras, Kate, wearing the same tweed blazer, striped shirt and brown trousers from her hospital visit, was seen engaging with different paratroopers and was even caught petting a tiny puppy during her Royal outing.
According to Hello! magazine, Princess Kate encountered the Parachute Regiment, who were participating in a team day, on her way home and stopped in for a brief visit before continuing home, reports the Mirror.
In the caption of the post, the charity stated: “The 2 PARA Cultural Day is an opportunity for paratroopers to come together and celebrate the many cultural groups that makeup the battalion. With food and drink from around the world being served, this event is educational and essential to the battalion’s morale.
“The day was once again made possible due to funding from @supportourparas, and our Events and Efficiency Manager, Mark, was delighted to be able to talk about our work with those in attendance, which included HRH The Princess of Wales @princeandprincessofwales.”
Whilst King Charles holds the position of Colonel in Chief of the Parachute Regiment, the Princess also has several military roles.
She was appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel in Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby in 2023.
Additionally, Princess Kate serves as Colonel of the Irish Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Air Cadets.
Prior to her visit to the regiment, the Princess of Wales engaged with patients and staff at Colchester Hospital. She discussed her gradual return to Royal duties following her battle with cancer, just a few weeks after her last-minute cancellation of her appearance at Royal Ascot
Speaking within the centre, which offers therapy, community groups and holistic treatments such as reflexology, she expressed: “There is a whole phase when you finish your treatment, everybody expects you to be better – go! But that’s not the case at all.”
She explained the emotional journey: “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like ‘I can crack on, get back to normal’ but actually the phase afterwards is really difficult.
“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.”
Highlighting the importance of support, she continued, “And actually someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment I think is really valuable.”
She concluded with a note on adjustment: “You have to find your new normal and that takes time.”