Princess of Wales donates majestic Christmas tree to Royal Marsden Hospital

The Princess of Wales has donated a majestic Christmas tree to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, spreading festive cheer ahead of December 25. Kate, 43, sent the tree from her annual Together at Christmas carol service, staged earlier this month at Westminster Abbey, to the hospital’s Sutton Oak Cancer Centre.

The tree was decorated for Kate’s Together at Christmas service on December 5, when she welcomed other senior royals, her children, and celebrities, including Kate Winslet and Katie Melua, to join her at the abbey. Staff at the Royal Marsden posted thanks on Instagram, noting that the tree was donated by HRH The Princess of Wales and is now on display in the entrance of the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton. Stephen Phair of Premier Plants donated the decorations and helped with the installation, according to the post. The gesture underscores the hospital’s close ties with the Princess, who has received preventative chemotherapy there after a 2024 cancer diagnosis and abdominal surgery. The Ever After Garden project at the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, another ongoing royal-supported initiative, remains a focus for the family’s charitable outreach during the holiday season.

Kate’s cancer journey has shaped a sustained pattern of engagement with cancer-related causes. In January, the Princess announced that she was in remission after her 2024 diagnosis and treatment, and she has since continued to champion cancer patients and their families. Earlier this month, she visited an art installation dedicated to those who have lost their lives to cancer, an Ever After Garden tribute in Chelsea, which invites supporters to dedicate one of more than 30,000 illuminated white roses in memory of loved ones. A close-up message handwritten by the Princess and planted in the garden reads: “In loving memory of all those who have lost their lives to cancer. C.”

The Royal Marsden acknowledged the visit and the tree donation on social media, describing the Ever After Garden as a place for quiet reflection and a meaningful part of the hospital’s charity work. Since opening in 2019, the garden has raised more than £1.2 million for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the hospital’s fundraising arm. The charity noted that the garden offers a space for remembrance and consolation during the festive season, when emotions can be mixed for many patients and families.

The British royal family’s charitable activities are often intertwined with hospital and medical charities, and this latest donation aligns with ongoing efforts to support the cancer community. The gesture comes as King Charles was said to be deeply touched by the positive reception to a recent video message about his own cancer treatment, which he said would be significantly reduced in the New Year. Buckingham Palace has said the monarch’s treatment is moving into a precautionary phase, though he will continue care under medical supervision. The broader context of royal health updates has kept public attention on how the family balances public duties with private health concerns.