Princess Kate has broken with royal tradition by speaking candidly about her cancer journey in a rare interview, revealing that her recovery "will take time" and that she has experienced "good days and bad days" during her battle with the disease.
The 44-year-old mother-of-three shared the details in an interview with author Robert Macfarlane for a special edition of Country Life magazine, which was guest-edited by her husband, Prince William.
A Rare Moment of Openness
Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 after undergoing abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January of that year. She finished chemotherapy in September and announced she was in remission in January of this year.
In the interview, Kate admitted: "There will be good days and bad days, that it will take time. This is the same in nature. It shows us that periods of rest, reflection and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth."
Finding Hope in Nature
The future queen explained that she found "hope" in nature during her illness, which provided solace during her recovery.
"It doesn't ask anything of us. It doesn't judge us or expect us to perform. It simply allows us to be. It really has been my sanctuary and a place I've instinctively wanted to go," she said.
Asked by Macfarlane where she finds hope, Kate replied that nature teaches us that "despite the challenges life may throw at us, we are not alone and that we're interconnected with something bigger than ourselves."
A New Approach to Parenting
Kate also described how she parents her own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in a statement that echoes the approach of the late Princess Diana.
She said: "It is something I remind myself to do with my own children; to give them freedom to explore, rather than constantly telling them what to see or what to think."
The interview marks a departure from the "never complain, never explain" mantra traditionally associated with the Royal Family, drawing comparisons to Diana, who broke royal codes of silence by speaking openly about her personal struggles, including her depression, bulimia and the breakdown of her marriage to Charles.
Kate's openness stands in contrast to the approach of Prince Harry, who centred his memoir on being born as a "Spare" to his older brother.
