Catherine, Princess of Wales visited a wellbeing garden at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday, marking her first public appearance since she unexpectedly dropped out of an appearance at Royal Ascot two weeks ago.

Also during her visit, Kate took a moment to serve in the hospital’s Royal Horticultural Society Wellbeing Garden, which offers respite to patients, visitors and others. Kate planted several Catherine’s Rose plants in the garden, a rose the hospital named after the princess.

The Princess of Wales has spoken candidly about the life-changing long-term challenges of recovering after chemotherapy, as she visited a hospital in Essex.