The Princess of Wales has spent much of 2024 away from the spotlight amid her cancer diagnosis

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George upon arrival to attend the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on December 25, 2024. Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

Kate Middleton is ending one of the most difficult years of her life by taking part in a cherished royal family tradition.

On Wednesday, Dec. 25, the Princess of Wales, 42, was joined by her husband Prince William and children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 — as well as other members of the royal family — for the traditional Christmas Day walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate, where Kate and the royal family typically spend Christmas every year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royal family’s Christmas Day walk, as they greeted well-wishers lining the route to catch a glimpse of the royals on their way to church service.

Kate, holding hands with her youngest son, Louis, looked festive in a green Alexander McQueen coat, which she had previously worn during a visit to Leeds in January 2023. She paired the coat with a matching fascinator and scarf, along with black gloves and boots.

After the service, Kate warmly greeted members of the public who lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of the royal family. With a bright smile, she shook hands, accepted armfuls of flowers, and knelt down to speak with young children.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales greets well-wishers as she attends the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

Two well-wishers shared touching details of their conversations with Kate during the royal family’s Christmas outing.

John Loughrey, who had arrived in Sandringham the night before, wore a shirt featuring photos of Kate and badges of the princess. Speaking to Sky News, he said, “I’m on top of the world. “I told Catherine she was an inspiration. She said thank you, and said she liked my badges.”

Another well-wisher, 73-year-old Karen Maclean, who has endured cancer for over 20 years, spoke with both Kate and King Charles. “We just had a little talk about cancer,” she said, recalling a warm exchange with the princess. Kate hugged Ms. Maclean, who had traveled from North Lincolnshire for the occasion.

Reflecting on her encounter with the King, Maclean shared, “He said to me ‘I can remember you’, I’m thinking ‘what!’, like many years ago?

She noted that both Kate and Charles appeared “very well actually, considering what they’re going through.” After hugging Kate, she added, “What a privilege.”

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales hugs a wellwisher after attending the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on December 25, 2024.OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

This year’s holiday appearance is especially meaningful for Kate after what has been a tumultuous 2024 that began with a planned abdominal surgery in January. At the time, the surgery was thought to be for a non-cancerous condition. However, post-operative tests later revealed the presence of cancer. She announced the diagnosis to the public on March 22 and wasn’t seen in an official capacity until June’s Trooping the Colour, celebrating the official birthday of her father-in-law King Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer this year. Both Kate and Charles’ respective types and stages of cancer remain unknown to the public.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024.OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

In a year mostly spent dedicated to her health, Kate was rarely seen at official royal engagements, save for Trooping the Colour and a July appearance at Wimbledon alongside daughter Charlotte and sister Pippa Middleton. On Sept. 9, Kate released a second video message, this time announcing that she had completed chemotherapy treatment. Though her return to royal work remains gradual, in October she visited Southport, England with William and stepped out for Remembrance events in November; on Dec. 6, she hosted her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, and continued her return to public life with the Dec. 25 outing.

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Catherine Princess of Wales, Prince William, Princess Charlotte and Prince George arrive at St. Mary Magdalene Church Christmas Day church service, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, Norfolk, UK – 25 Dec 2024.Victoria Jones/Shutterstock

At her carol concert earlier this month, Kate said she “didn’t know this year was going to be the year that I’ve just had … the unplanned.”

“But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times, and many who are here today.”

In November, Prince William said that 2024 has been “the hardest year in my life”: “It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life…I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales and Prince Louis attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate’s cancer diagnosis has reframed her life, both with her family at home and in her approach to her royal work. “Life-threatening illnesses bring a reconsideration of priorities,” a source close to the royal household told PEOPLE. “She and William have always made it clear that family is the most important thing.”

As 2025 looms, Kate “is very much in control of her return to public life,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE. “She is doing what works best for her.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

A friend said, “She is focused on herself and her family right now, rightly,” adding that she has “not fully recovered.” An insider told PEOPLE, “She won’t be going back to work in the same way for a long time.”

A source said: “You can’t go through something like that and come out the other side unchanged. She is a different person now.”

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The path back to more and more royal duty won’t be straightforward, royal biographer Robert Hardman told PEOPLE. “We are being encouraged not to look at this as a chapter that’s over and then it’s back to normal, because cancer doesn’t work like that,” he said. “The details remain private, but there’s no sense of trying to gloss over the reality that it’s an unpredictable disease.”

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

Bedell Smith added, “She will probably continue to be strategic about how often she appears in public, and people shouldn’t hold it against her if she is doing less next year. The important thing is she will be pacing herself. She will do what she’s able to do and pursue things she feels passionate about.”

Kate Middleton greets members of the public after Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

A family friend told PEOPLE that, though she “is not back to normal,” there are signs of “light at the end of the tunnel.”

“She has to get back on top of it,” a source close to the royal household told PEOPLE. “And she will if she is left alone to work it out for herself.”