Princess Kate Middleton shocked the world by announcing in 2024 that she was battling an unspecified form of cancer following a noticeable absence from the public eye that had drawn attention from fans. After undergoing preventative chemotherapy, Kate revealed her cancer was in remission as of 2025, and fans are curious if cold cap therapy played a part in saving her hair.

What Is Cold Cap Therapy?

Cold Cap therapy is a type of treatment “that might reduce hair loss caused by chemotherapy,” according to the American Cancer Society.

“They work by connecting a special cap to an automated device that circulates a liquid or gel cooled to a specific temperature,” the organization states. “Automated cold caps are only approved for chemo-induced hair loss related to solid tumor cancers, not blood cancers.”

Kate Middleton Spoke Out About Cold Capping Therapy

While visiting a London hospital in January 2025, Kate spoke with a patient named Katherine Field, who shared that they discussed cold capping, a treatment Katherine was currently undergoing.

“It was just like talking to a friend about a really horrible time in life and how you find ways of getting through it. ‘Finding the new normal’ is what she said, which is absolutely true,” she told People on January 16, 2025, before speaking about her cold capping experience. “I hate it, but I think it is working. Today there is a little bit of hair coming out, but I’m just trying to delay it.”

When asked if Kate had mentioned using a cold cap during her own cancer treatment, she replied, “She just said she didn’t need it. Losing her hair, which is so iconic, would have been awful. Everyone loves her hair!”

When Did Kate Middleton Reveal Her Cancer Diagnosis?

Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video addressed to the public in March 2024.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” the princess began in her statement. “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”

Once Kate was officially diagnosed with cancer, she explained that her “medical team therefore advised that [she] should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy.”

Kate continued, “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ​OK. As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.”

What Treatments Did Kate Middleton Undergo During Cancer Battle?

Kate announced that she ended her preventative chemotherapy on September 9, 2024. She opened up about the milestone in a video statement shared later that day.

The royal explained that her health battle had been “tough” on her family, though said they are “grateful” for the things they have in life.

“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,” Kate continued. “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.”