Kate ‘Deeply Unsettled’ by ‘Grim’ Death Preparations After Report She’s ‘Struggling Behind Closed Doors’ Post-Cancer—It’s ‘Morbid & Cruel’
Jason Pham
Kate Middleton is apparently “deeply unsettled” by a “morbid” royal rule after her cancer diagnosis. A source told Radar Online in a report published on October 8, 2025, that the Princess of Wales is struggling with the requirement that she must pack a mourning outfit with her each time she leaves the country, especially after she confronted her own mortality after her cancer battle.
“It’s an incredibly grim rule, and Kate hates it. The idea of planning for death every time she travels feels morbid and cruel. After her cancer scare, it’s even harder for her to cope with. She doesn’t like thinking about mortality, and this constant reminder leaves her anxious and, at times, genuinely traumatized,” the source said.
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The rule originates from a moment in royal history involving Queen Elizabeth II, then a princess, who was unprepared in Kenya when her father, King George VI, died in 1952. With no mourning clothes in her luggage, the Queen had to remain on her plane after landing in London until an all-black outfit was delivered. Since then, all senior members of the British royal family have been required to travel with a “death outfit” in case they come across a similar instance.
“The royal family has to appear steady, even when facing tragedy,” the source said. “The public can never see them unprepared. That’s why this custom – morbid as it may seem – still exists.”
Another insider added, “The royal family has to appear steady, even when facing tragedy. The public can never see them unprepared. That’s why this custom – morbid as it may seem – still exists.”
News of how Kate feels about carrying a death outfit comes after Radar Online reported in August 2025 that the princess is “still struggling behind closed doors” despite announcing that she was in remission from cancer in January 2025. “Behind closed doors, she’s still struggling emotionally and tires a lot more easily; it’s taking longer to readjust to royal life after her cancer treatment,” the insider said.
The source continued, “She’s still not back to where she was before her diagnosis, and she’s not sure she ever will be, which is why she’s told William she needs a decent break before term starts in September. She’s unofficially stepped back from royal duties this summer – and of course, William is wholly supportive.”
