Kate Middleton’s Health: “The princess is Going Through ‘Emotions and Fears’ “ – Palace Press Secretary

“She might be the Princess of Wales, but she is still a mother and wife,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary tells

Kate Middleton appeared both fragile and resilient at Trooping the Colour after admitting that she has both “good days” and “bad days” amid her cancer treatment.

“She might be the Princess of Wales, but she is still a mother and wife and going through the same set of emotions and worries and fears as anyone else in that set of circumstances would be,” Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s cover story.

The Princess of Wales, 42, radiated strength during her first public appearance in nearly six months at King Charles’ official birthday parade in London on June 15, but a source close to the royal household adds, “The treatment is punishing, and it is different for different people. And the side effects can be unforgiving.”

Those close to her say that she finds relief in the routines of daily life with her family, including children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

“The children won’t remember Mummy shaking hands or really care,” royal historian Amanda Foreman says about Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. “But they will recall Mummy making cakes [or when] she went off to the local shop and bought something or took them somewhere.”

Princess Kate confirmed her plans to attend Trooping the Colour in a personal health update on June 14, her first message since her cancer announcement in March. In the self-written letter shared with a new portrait of her posing below a tree in Windsor, the royal reassured that she is “making good progress” despite the challenges of chemotherapy. She candidly spoke about the ups and downs of her journey and expressed gratitude for the support she has received, adding that she is not “out of the woods yet.”

The Princess of Wales has been reprioritizing her life over the last three months and said she is focusing on her own needs while drawing strength from her family.