We don’t need to know what cancer she had,” said one woman who spoke to Kate on Tuesday. “We just know she’s been through surgery, she’s been through chemo—and one year later, my goodness, look, she is here.

"The princess’s presence on the wards was so encouraging and sent the message 'I went through this just like you, and you can overcome it, too'."

Angela Terry tells PEOPLE that the Princess of Wales' stop at the hospital served as "a great message of hope"