Angela Terry tells PEOPLE that the Princess of Wales' stop at the hospital served as "a great message of hope"

Kate Middleton spent much of last year battling an unspecified form of cancer. Her courage and grace have been inspiring to others fighting the disease, and one fellow patient explained exactly what it is about the Princess that has them feeling encouraged.

For her first appearance of 2025, Catherine, Princess of Wales made a surprise visit to London's Royal Marsden Hospital, the health center where she received cancer treatment, as a way of giving back to those who supported her.

Kate Middleton recounted the "shock" of being diagnosed with cancer and how it affects "the whole family" at her hospital stop, Angela Terry tells PEOPLE

We don’t need to know what cancer she had,” said one woman who spoke to Kate on Tuesday. “We just know she’s been through surgery, she’s been through chemo—and one year later, my goodness, look, she is here.