Princess Kate Opens Up About "Spiritual" and "Very Intense" Feelings in Surprise New Video

The Princess of Wales shared one thing that has helped her find "peace and reconnection" amid her health battle.

Kate Middleton wearing a tan sweater and green cap smiling in front of some trees
(Image credit: Kensington Palace)

The Princess of Wales is getting back to nature. On Monday, April 14, Princess Kate starred in a surprise new video talking about the importance of spending time outdoors—and now that she's in remission from cancer, the royal said she finds being in the natural world a "very intense emotional reconnection."

The princess, who serves as joint president of U.K. Scouts, and its chief scout, Dwayne Fields, appeared in a short film discussing the importance of the natural world. The duo shared their thoughts on how getting outdoors helps to support health and wellbeing, with the clip filmed in England's Lake District last month.

Dressed in a $755 tan turtleneck by Emilia Wickstead, an old favorite green tweed cap and the Bella Hoskyns bomber jacket she wore in her controversial 2024 Mother's Day photo, Princess Kate took a walk near the shores of Lake Windermere with Fields in the film. They were joined by a group of Scouts between the ages of 10 and 15 who are working on their naturalist badge.

During the video, the Princess of Wales said, "I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection I suppose, these environments. Not everyone has that same relationship perhaps with nature, but 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.”

Kate Middleton and Dwayne Fields posing by a lake

The Princess of Wales posed with the U.K.'s Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, by England's Lake Windermere.

(Image credit: Kensington Palace)

Kate Middleton bending down over a map with young Scouts in grass

The princess helped Scouts who are working to earn a naturalist badge.

(Image credit: Kensington Palace)

Kneeling down in the grass to help explain a map to the kids, the princess elaborated on how Scouting is still relevant "despite how different the modern day world is now." Fields added that having the future queen as the organization's president is "great for the Scout movement."

The Princess of Wales has previously opened up about how nature has helped her through her cancer battle, telling patients at the Royal Marsden Hospital how sunlight played a role in her recovery. "I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight," she said, as reported by the Daily Mail in January.

Kate Middleton holding a glass of water by a lake talking to Scouts

(Image credit: Kensington Palace)

To mark World Cancer Day on Feb. 3, the princess shared a photo of herself posing in the woods that was snapped by 6-year-old Prince Louis. "A royal aide emphasized that spending time in nature has been extremely important to The Princess over the past year as she underwent her own cancer journey," journalist Rebecca English posted on Instagram at the time.

Monday marks the first time the princess has been seen since St. Patrick's Day, when Kate attended the annual Irish Guards parade. While The King and Queen are confirmed to attend Easter Sunday services at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, the palace have not yet announced if the Prince and Princess of Wales will join the family.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.