The Princess of Wales has spoken about her recovery from cancer and finding solace in nature in a rare magazine interview. Kate Middleton spoke to author Robert Macfarlane for a special issue of Country Life magazine, guest-edited by her husband, Prince William.
Recovery and Nature's Lessons
The princess described how nature "doesn't judge us or expect us to perform", and echoing remarks she made previously about her cancer journey, she said: "I was told in hospital that my recovery would not be linear. There will be good days and bad days; it will take time."
She added: "This is the same in nature. It shows us that periods of rest, reflection and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth."
The future queen said: "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."
Hope and Giving Back
Asked by Macfarlane where she finds hope, Kate replied that she finds it in the lessons taught by nature: "that, despite the challenges life may throw at us, we are not alone and that we're interconnected with something bigger than ourselves".
The writer told the princess he found hope in watching communities help protect rivers, as part of their discussion for the magazine's special bumper issue, which was published on Wednesday. Kate replied: "I couldn't agree more. It is the sense of hope we find in the darkest of times. We need to find the things that we can do alongside others, ways to connect and give back."
The princess also praised Mind Over Mountains, a charity offering professional mental fitness support by combining nature walks, mindfulness, and time with experienced wellbeing counsellors.
Family and Childhood Memories
Her love of nature, she explained during the interview, started in childhood when she would spend time playing in streams, blackberry picking or "simply time alone in my own world, enjoying the simplicity of ordinary things" and how she felt a sense of freedom "that is hard to find elsewhere".
Kate also described how she parents her own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. "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", she said.
William is following in the footsteps of his father, the King, stepmother, Queen Camilla and aunt, the Princess Royal, by guest editing the weekly magazine.
Recent Cancer-Related Engagements
This comes after, last month, the Princess of Wales praised the "incredible" cancer care she received at the Royal Marsden when she returned to thank hospital staff in person. Kate met senior figures from the Royal Marsden and said their plans to expand holistic care for patients through a new centre would be "transformative".
The future queen, who announced in January 2025 that she was in remission, sat down to chat to cancer patients and described one father living with a brain tumour as an "inspiration" after they bonded about the support they received from their children.
She also completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours in June, raising funds for the development of a new specialist Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery at the Royal Marsden in central London. "This was my small way of being able to give back and say thank you to you. I had incredible care here and support from a huge team, and I'm really, really grateful on a personal level," she said.
