In a moving video released by Kensington Palace, the Princess of Wales offers a deeply personal reflection on the healing and grounding power of the natural world. Walking through the serene landscape near Lake Windermere in the Lake District, Catherine joined a group of Scouts from Cumbria and Greater Manchester as part of a visit celebrating young people’s engagement with the outdoors.
The Princess of Wales met new Chief Scout Dwayne Fields. (Kensington Palace)
The Princess opened up about her profound connection to nature – a connection that has only deepened during her battle with cancer. In conversation with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, she described being in the natural world as a ‘very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection’, and a vital source of ‘balance’ and ‘peace’ in an busy life.
Catherine, who is currently in remission, has long been a champion of nature’s role in emotional wellbeing. During her chemotherapy treatment, she revealed that the outdoors became a ‘sanctuary’ for her and her family – providing solace, calm, and clarity during an unimaginably difficult time.
The Princess joined Scouts in the Lake District. (Royal Family)
‘When all the stresses and strains of regular life happen and you come into a space like this’, Fields asked during their woodland walk, ‘what do you think about?’
The Princess responded: ‘I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection. It is so therefore meaningful for me as a place to balance and find a sort of sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world.’
The visit was more than just a stroll through the hills – it was a celebration of the Scout movement’s mission to equip young people with the skills, resilience, and empathy needed for life. As the Princess of Wales crouched down beside the Scouts to look at a map, she chatted about the Lake District’s peaks and the joy of discovering the great outdoors.
HRH spoke about the power of nature in a moving video released by Kensington Palace. (Kensington Palace)
HRH and Fields also discussed how nature fosters not just peace but personal growth. ‘I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature’, Kate said, ‘because it’s a space where they can push themselves, they can challenge themselves, they learn leadership skills, spend time making friends and those life-long really great memories’.
Fields added, ‘Outdoor adventures can build the vital skills young people need for the rest of their lives… and I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves’.
This visit continues the Princess of Wales’ strong advocacy for connecting with the natural world. Since becoming Joint President of the Scouts in 2020, Kate has been a vocal supporter of the organisation’s efforts to nurture resilience and social responsibility in young people. Her partnership with Fields – who recently succeeded Bear Grylls as Chief Scout – marks a new chapter.
But Her Royal Highness’ connection to nature goes even deeper. In 2019, she co-designed the RHS Back To Nature Garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. Set in a tranquil woodland with a stream, treehouse, and swing seat, the garden was a physical manifestation of her belief that children and families thrive when they’re immersed in green spaces. The aim, she said, was to encourage families “to get outside and enjoy nature.”
