Kate Middleton shares what doctors told her during cancer recovery, how nature helped her heal
Kate, the Princess of Wales, is opening up about her cancer journey and the role nature played in her recovery process.
The mom of three recently spoke with writer Robert Macfarlane in an interview for Country Life, sharing what she said doctors told her as she was recovering from cancer.
The interview is included in County Life's latest issue, for which her husband, Prince William, is a guest editor.
"I was told in hospital that my recovery would not be linear," Kate said. "There will be good and bad days, that it will take time."
She continued, "This is the same in nature. It shows us that periods of rest, reflection and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth."
Kate said she turned to nature to bolster her recovery, saying the two things were "definitely connected."
"What I feel really passionate about, having had first-hand experience, is approaching illness and recovery through a whole-person approach. Yes, serious illness creates a lot of physical challenges, but there is also a deeper part to all of us," she said.
The Princess of Wales said being in nature during the healing process had allowed her to "find a deeper connection to my mind, body and spirit."
"I think that's because nature offers something unique," she 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."
Kate first went public with her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, announcing at the time that she would undergo "a course of preventative chemotherapy" at the advice of her medical team.
She did not disclose the specific type of cancer with which she was diagnosed.
In September 2024, Kate announced she had completed her chemotherapy treatments, and months later, in January 2025, she released a public statement announcing she was in remission.
Since then, Kate has been open about how spending time outdoors has assisted her recovery.
In May, she released a video series, "Mother Nature," on the official Prince and Princess of Wales YouTube channel. According to the description, the four-part series is "a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal."
Speaking to Macfarlane, Kate described nature as a "quiet teacher."
"I find hope in the lessons nature teaches: that, despite the challenges life may throw at us, we are not alone and that we're interconnected with something bigger than ourselves," she said.
She added, "Nature reminds us that change is inevitable. We might not be able to have certainty or control every outcome, but we can do the small things, and those small things add up and do make a difference, if we nurture what is around us and have faith."
