Kate's Return to Form

A month after announcing she's cancer-free, Princess Kate has resumed her official duties. Insiders reveal how the royal's feeling behind the scenes and the big changes she's making moving forward

- JAIME HARKIN

Princess Kate made an unexpected but very welcome return to public duties alongside her husband, Prince William, on Oct. 10, when the couple visited the town of Southport to show support following the July 29 attack on three children. As they made their way to the local community center, the pair looked more in sync than ever, with Kate dressed in an Alexander McQueen coat and a Whistles polka-dot dress and William in a matching burgundy sweater and tie under his blazer.

"It was a reminder of what a powerful tag team they are," says royal expert and The King: The Life of Charles III author Christopher Andersen, noting that William looked "deeply grateful to have his favorite person by his side." A month prior, Kate, 42, released a personal video message revealing she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and was looking forward to getting back to work. True to her word, she held a meeting at Windsor Castle with a 16-year-old cancer patient on Oct. 2 and has added a few events including her annual Christmas Carol Service to her calendar.

"Kate loves reconnecting with the community and representing her family, but she's also trying to find a balance between her duties and personal well-being," explains an insider. "She appreciates the sense of purpose but wants to ensure her stress levels don't get [too high]." Now she's adjusting to life after treatment and her new normal - in which she'll take on a less-demanding royal role as she continues to prioritize her health and spending quality time with her husband, also 42, and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. "Kate has a lot more energy than she did even a few weeks ago," Andersen tells Us. "She's tremendously relieved that the treatments seem to have worked and she can call herself cancer-free, but she's not taking anything for granted. She's following doctor's orders," he adds. "[It's] baby steps."

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