Kate Middleton Shares 'Shock' of Cancer Diagnosis and How It Affects the 'Whole Family' (Exclusive)

"It was really heart-warming to watch," Angela Terry tells PEOPLE of Princess Kate's candor when she bonded with cancer patients

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

Kate Middleton reflected with candor on how a cancer diagnosis upends the family dynamic during a visit to the hospital where she previously received cancer treatment.

Angela Terry met Princess Kate during her surprise stop at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, and exclusively tells PEOPLE that the royal spoke of the "shock" of a diagnosis and its ripple effect.

"I overheard her talking to someone about the shock of diagnosis and she said, "Yes! The shock — and it’s not just you, it’s the whole family, isn’t it?' " Terry, 71, recalls. "They were having this lovely engaging chat. Imagine sitting at the kitchen table having a mug of coffee. She’s someone I would like to do that with."

"She was so open," Terry says. "She had this 'We’re in this together' approach, so I think people felt they were able to say all sorts of things. It was really heart-warming to watch."

EGFR+ Lung Cancer UK/Instagram Kate Middleton and Angela Terry at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

EGFR+ Lung Cancer UK/Instagram

Kate Middleton and Angela Terry at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

Related: Kate Middleton Reflects on Family Life During Cancer Treatment: 'It’s Just Trying to Do the Best'

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Princess Kate, 43, and Prince William, 42, are parents to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, and Kate's comment about how a cancer diagnosis affects family calls back to a similar sentiment expressed in her September video message about completing chemotherapy.

"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. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you," Princess Kate said then. (Her announcement about completing chemo was poignantly shared in a video of her and William with their children in Norfolk, offering the most intimate glimpse yet of their private life.)

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024

Terry serendipitously met the Princess of Wales while at the Royal Marsden on Jan. 14 to receive treatment. The grandmother was diagnosed with EGFR-positive lung cancer six years ago and serves as the non-executive chair of EGFR Positive UK, a charity working to support people navigating that form of cancer. She says it was a pleasure to connect with Princess Kate.

"I’m still buzzing. It was so fortuitous because I was literally the next one in for bloods. I just caught her eye as she walked past and said to her, 'You look wonderful,' because she did — she looked fabulous given everything she has been through. And she just smiled and said 'So do you,' " Terry tells PEOPLE.

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The charity chair met the princess through the hospital's director of nursing. At first Terry and Kate "chatted for a bit" before "this amazing thing happened."

EGFR+ Lung Cancer UK/Instagram Kate Middleton and Angela Terry at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025.

EGFR+ Lung Cancer UK/Instagram

Kate Middleton and Angela Terry at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025.

Related: Why a Cancer Patient Who Met Kate Middleton Says, 'We Don't Need to Know What Cancer She Had' (Exclusive)

"Kate just moved closer to me, she put her arm around my waist, I put my arm around her waist and we just grinned at each other. I was so touched, it was such a special moment of connection," Terry tells PEOPLE.

EGFR Positive UK soon shared the photos to social media, and Terry says that her exchange with Kate is one she'll always treasure.

"I told her that I’m a non-executive chair of EGFR Positive UK, a charity for mutation-driven lung cancer. We are all patients who got lung cancer, despite having never smoked and most of us are between 40-55, people just like her. Although I’m older, most people are in the middle of their careers, with young families, leading fit healthy lifestyles. She really engaged and we had a chat about the charity, she was really interested to hear about it," Terry says of her talk with Kate. "I just felt like we had such a connection."

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Terry says she was struck by the Princess of Wales' presence, explaining that she "was so much more than I expected her to be."

CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Kate Middleton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty

Kate Middleton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

"She has such poise and elegance, extremely genuine and sincere. She is very personable," she says. "I watched her talking to other patients and she’s amazing. She has this gentle eye contact as she talks. She reaches out and maybe touches their shoulder or holds their hand, and her smile is always there. The level of connection she makes with each and every person she meets is phenomenal."

A Kensington Palace spokesman said that the Princess Wales visited the Royal Marsden Hospital to "show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world leading care and treatment the Marsden provides."

The princess' visit was not announced in advance, and coincided with the confirmation that she received treatment at the renowned medical center during her cancer journey. The Prince and Princess of Wales were also announced as joint patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and Kate relayed later that day that she is in remission.

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The princess used her visit to meet staff working across the hospital and patients currently undergoing treatment, and Terry says Princess Kate's sincerity left an impression.

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton speaks with Rebecca Mendelhson at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton speaks with Rebecca Mendelhson at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, 2025

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"It’s such an elevated position she is in, but yet in that moment, she was just another woman sitting next to you, in the same situation as you. I do wonder if the royals weren’t there, who would fill that space? That combination of confidence, professionalism, empathy and her genuine sincere nature is a winning package," she tells PEOPLE.

"She was there to say thank you to the people who had looked after her, talk to patients who were in a similar situation. It was a great message of hope because she looked so well. We don’t need to know what cancer she had. We just know she’s been through surgery, she’s been through chemo — and one year later, my goodness, look, she is here."

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