Kate Middleton returned to the public agenda with one of those visits that combine protocol with genuinely human moments. Accompanied by William, she toured the Bermondsey Beer Mile, a route of independent breweries and craft bars in south London.
They stopped by Borough Market, served coffee, put on aprons to hand out crumble with custard, visited the RNLI rescue station on the Thames, and even poured pints. It was a long, eventful, and quite revealing day.
Why did Kate decline to try the beers during her visit to the Bermondsey Beer Mile?
The most talked-about moment came at Fabal Beerhall, when founder Hannah Rhodes invited her to try some of their beers and ciders. Kate declined and explained it straight away: “Since my diagnosis, I haven’t had much alcohol. It’s something I have to be a lot more conscious of now.”
No drama, no beating around the bush. It was simply a very personal statement that no one expected to hear in that context. Then, she looked at William and patted him on the knee: “But you like your cider, don’t you?” This turn of events lightened the mood, but it didn’t diminish the significance of what she had just confessed.
What we know about Kate Middleton’s cancer and how she is today
In 2024, Kate was diagnosed with cancer; the type has not been disclosed. Less than a year later, she announced that she was in remission. She is 44 years old, and since then, she has gradually resumed her schedule.
What she said at the brewery is not a minor detail, as this is the first time she has talked about the specific changes that cancer has brought to her daily life.