Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, said on Monday she had finished her course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer, saying the treatment had given her a new perspective and made her grateful for “simply loving and being loved”.

Kate, 42, wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, had major abdominal surgery in January which revealed the presence of cancer and has been undergoing treatment since then.

In a personal message accompanying an intimate video of her with her husband and their three young children, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Princes George, 11, and Louis, 6, Kate said she would be carrying out a handful of public engagements later this year.

But she cautioned her path to full recovery would be long, and her focus was to remain cancer free.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in her message.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”

Kate spent two weeks in hospital in January after having surgery, and two months later she announced in a video message that tests had revealed the presence of cancer.

Her office, Kensington Palace, has declined to give any further details about the type of cancer or other specifics about her treatment.

She made her first public appearance this year in June at the annual military parade to mark the official birthday of King Charles, and then attended the Wimbledon tennis championships.