PENSIONER Karen MacLean was given a hug by the Princess of Wales outside Sandringham this morning after revealing she is battling cancer.
The 73-year-old, from Humberston near Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, described the moment Kate embraced her as “overwhelmingly good”.
She told The Sun: “We were talking about our illnesses, because we’re both cancer victims, when she reached out and hugged me.
“It was really unexpected and such a joy… I gave her a tight squeeze back.
“It was such a surreal moment. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It was so overwhelmingly good.”
She added: “You get a camaraderie with other cancer victims. Unless you’ve been on that journey you can’t understand what it’s like.”
Karen, who is still under treatment for cancer, also spoke briefly to the King, Princess Beatrice and Prince George.
She continued: “Kate is looking really well and The King looks quite good too.
“They’ve not had the best of years, so it’s nice to see them all back out together and united.”
Another woman, who had worked for Macmillan Cancer Support, told Kate: “I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients.”
She replied: “The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families.
“People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.”
It comes after the King attended the royal family‘s traditional Christmas Day church service.
Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.
They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
William walked hand in hand with Charlotte, and Kate who wore a green coat and hat, smiled at the crowds.
Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Absent was the Duke of York, who has been dogged by links to an alleged Chinese spy.
Andrew, 64, had joined the family at church for the last two years in succession, but was said to be preparing to spend Christmas Day with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York this year.
They were expected to spend Christmas at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.
They then headed inside and the national anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Earlier this year, William described the past year, in which his wife and father were treated for cancer, as “brutal”.
He said that 2024 has “probably been the hardest year in my life” and a “dreadful” experience.
