Longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson is opening up about one of the most emotional moments he has captured, involving Kate Middleton’s return to the hospital where she received cancer treatment.
Jackson, who has photographed the British royal family for years, recalled witnessing the Princess of Wales visit The Royal Marsden Hospital in January 2025. The visit came after Middleton completed chemotherapy and announced she was in remission.
Chris Jackson Reflects on Kate Middleton’s Hospital Visit
Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 and underwent treatment through September of that year. Her return to The Royal Marsden marked a significant moment in her recovery.
Jackson described the experience while speaking to Us Weekly.
“You can often find yourself in these incredible historic moments,” he said. “As a royal photographer, you’re quite present in the moment, even behavior and decorum and all of those other elements are so important.”
He shared a specific moment that stood out to him as Middleton approached the hospital.
“I will never forget as she’s kind of walking up the stairs, she literally glanced up, and I felt in that millisecond, there were definitely some memories of that place,” he said. “I would imagine having gone there for treatment. It was a pretty salient time in her life.”
Jackson added that the visit was emotional, especially as Middleton reconnected with staff and patients.
“Clearly meeting the doctors and the nurses who knew her and the patients she really wanted to see there—it was really emotional,” he said.
The Princess of Wales’ Recovery Was Supported by Family and Public Moments
GettyJackson also spoke about Middleton’s recovery and the role her family played during that time.
“Family is obviously really important to all of them, and they’ll always prioritize that,” he said. “A bit of the book is about those challenges, and I think they’re important to address, but we’ve seen an amazing bounce back.”
During the hospital visit, Jackson observed how meaningful the moment was not only for Middleton but also for those around her.
Speaking on Hello!’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” he described the reaction from hospital staff.
“They were super excited to see her,” he said. “There was a particular lady on the way who gave her a big hug, and she chatted to a few really lovely patients who were going through their own journey.”
He added that Middleton took time to listen and connect.
“She was listening to everything they had to say,” Jackson said. “So it was a really meaningful engagement… I think everyone came away with a positive feeling afterwards.”
Chris Jackson on Capturing Historic Royal Moments
Jackson’s experience documenting the royal family has included many historic events, from state visits to personal milestones.
“There’s definitely elements of protocol that go into the job,” he said. “Certainly when you’re traveling abroad and the royals are meeting heads of state… that experience makes you a better photographer over the years.”
He also reflected on the broader responsibility of his work.
“You’re capturing moments in history that people will look at in tens of years’ time—hundreds of years’ time, maybe—so it feels like a lot of responsibility,” Jackson told Hello!. “But at the same time, that’s what makes it so special.”
Jackson’s new book, “Modern Majesty: The British Royal Family Today,” is available wherever books are sold.
