Kate says she has completed chemotherapy

In a very personal video released by Kensington Palace, the Princess of Wales spoke of her relief at the end of her chemotherapy.

Catherine announced in March that she was undergoing cancer treatment and had largely withdrawn from public life throughout the year.

She will have a number of commitments this year, possibly including commemorative events in November and her annual Christmas carol concert.

But in an emotional video message, she says this year has been “incredibly tough” and “life as you know it can change in an instant.”

This latest update on Catherine’s health sends a positive message about her progress, but she still has a long way to go.

Kensington Palace indicated that it was not possible at this time to say whether she was cancer-free.

The princess describes the “stormy waters” of her experience with cancer as “complex, frightening and unpredictable.”

“Humility also makes you confront your own vulnerability in ways you’ve never considered before and gives you a new perspective on everything,” the princess says in an unusually personal video filmed in Norfolk last month.

The video, shot in autumnal colors, suggests how satisfied she is to have completed this phase of her treatment.

“Summer is coming to an end and I can’t tell you what a relief it is to finally have finished my chemotherapy,” she says as she drives or goes for a walk with her family.

The Princess is expected to return for a “handful” of visits later this year, possibly including the annual memorial service at the Cenotaph.

However, palace sources also stress that there is still a long way to go before a full return and that the princess will be focusing primarily on her health in the coming months.

“My road to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she says.

She says that despite the tough times, her experience gave her “a new sense of hope and a new appreciation for life.”

Catherine was in recovery and away from public duties for much of this difficult year.

Her health problems began in January when she was hospitalized for unspecified abdominal surgery.

In March, the princess announced her cancer diagnosis and said in a video message that she was undergoing treatment and needed privacy during her recovery.

Catherine described it as a “huge shock” after “an incredibly tough few months”.

Her first public appearance of the year was at the Trooping the Colour parade in June, when she waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Before this appearance, the Princess had issued a personal statement with cautious optimism. She announced her return but said she was “not out of the woods yet” and had experienced “good days and bad days” during her cancer treatment.

At her last appearance at Wimbledon in July, she received a standing ovation when she attended the men’s singles final.