QUEEN of nature

How the great outdoors is helping Kate heal

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When the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, she found solace in nature – particularly spending time in the woods and countryside around her Norfolk home of Anmer Hall. Since then, the healing power of the natural world has become central to her work – a kind of royal unique selling point. And this USP has been evident in the message of many of her recent social media posts.

In May, the princess shared an image of the new bloom Catherine's Rose, named after her by the Royal Horticultural Society. Proceeds will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. 'Spending time in nature has always been a source of comfort and strength,' she wrote. 'Gardens and green spaces provide not only beauty and joy, but also vital support for our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.' She followed it with a nature video for Mental Health Awareness Week. 'As we confront the challenges of an increasingly complex and digital world, the importance of the connection between humanity and nature takes on even more significance,' she wrote, adding that nature helps us 'foster our own growth, strengthen our bonds with the world around us and each other'.