The Princess of Wales has marked her 44th birthday with a poignant and personal video message, reflecting on gratitude and the restorative power of the natural world.
A Final Seasonal Reflection
In the short film, entitled Winter and released on Friday morning, Catherine is seen on an early morning walk in Berkshire. This footage forms the concluding chapter of her quarterly Mother Nature series, a project she launched in the spring of last year to celebrate the UK's changing seasons.
The princess's birthday arrives just days before the first anniversary of her announcement that she was in remission from cancer, adding profound weight to her reflections. In the video, she describes the series as "a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal."
Finding Peace in the Stillness
"Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration," Catherine says in the voiceover. She goes on to share a deeply felt sense of appreciation, stating: "I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify."
Her message emphasises nature's role as a gentle guide, helping to process emotion. "To be at one with nature; a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory. Helping us to heal," she concludes.
A Message of Collective Healing
The video was shared on the official @KensingtonRoyal social media account with an accompanying caption written by the princess. While acknowledging the personal journey, she framed the project's wider significance.
"But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing," the caption read. "There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C"
The Mother Nature series has featured the princess in various locations across the country, including:
- Cumbria
- Gloucestershire
- London
- East Sussex
- The Cotswolds
This birthday release follows a surprise visit by Catherine and the Prince of Wales to Charing Cross hospital in London just one day prior. The royal couple met with volunteers and NHS staff during a tea break, in their first official engagement of 2026.
