There’s “a light at the end of the tunnel” but it will be “a long time” before she resumes her previous pace, says the source.

Kate Middleton still has a little ways to go before she’s fully “back to normal,” her close friend claims. The Princess of Wales, 42, has faced a challenging year healthwise after having to undergo chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis in March.

Kate Middleton may be slowly returning to the spotlight amid her cancer recovery, but that doesn't mean she's back to her old self again quite yet. According to a family friend, the Princess of Wales "is not back to normal" as she continues to navigate her return to public duty.

Kate Middleton is slowly returning to public duties after battling cancer, but insiders revealed the Princess of Wales isn't ready to hit the ground running quite yet. According to a source, Kate “is not back to normal,

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been navigating a challenging health journey this year. Following her cancer diagnosis in March, she stepped back from public life to focus on her treatment and recovery.

You can’t go through something like that and come out the other side unchanged. She is a different person now," an insider tells PEOPLE in this week's issue

Kate Middleton completed her cancer treatment back in September and has slowly been returning to her public duties, but she's still following orders from her doctor