After getting through the “toughest year of [her] life,” Kate Middleton spent a “chaotic” Sandringham Christmas celebrating while surrounded by 44 members of the royal family. While Kate’s holiday schedule was packed with longtime traditions,

Kate Middleton spent much of last year battling an unspecified form of cancer. Her courage and grace have been inspiring to others fighting the disease, and one fellow patient explained exactly what it is about the Princess that has them feeling encouraged.

The Princess of Wales had undergone preventive chemotherapy for her cancer diagnosis last year and scaled back her royal duties as she recovered