Kate Middleton Says Cancer Recovery is Not ‘Linear’ in Rare Interview
Kate Middleton opened up about her experience with cancer in a rare new interview where she discussed how nature helped her heal following her diagnosis.
“In difficult moments especially, nature can help us reconnect with ourselves and with the things that matter most. It reminds us that we’re part of something larger than our immediate worries and challenges,” the Princess of Wales told Robert Macfarlane for a special issue of Country Life guest-edited by her husband, Prince William.
During her conversation with Macfarlane, the future queen shared how her love of nature affected her attitude during treatment.
“[I]t is about listening and paying attention,” she said. “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.”
The Duchess of Cambridge went on to say that nature allowed her to create a “deeper connection to my mind, body and spirit” and that it was her “sanctuary” in a challenging time.
“I think that’s because nature offers something unique. It doesn’t ask anything of us. It doesn’t judge us or expect us to perform. It simply allows us to be,” she added.
In March 2024, Kate Middleton announced that she was undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer. In September, she shared that she’d completed her course of chemotherapy, and in January 2025, she revealed her cancer was in remission.
While the princess has not shared many specific details about her cancer treatment, in her latest interview, she admitted that it was a difficult journey.
“I was told in hospital that my recovery would not be linear,” she said. “There will be good days and bad days, that it will take time. This is the same in nature. It shows us that periods of rest, reflection, and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth.”
The mom of three believes that time in nature can be an important part of a patient’s treatment plan.
“What is interesting is to see the science now back up what we instinctively know and feel,” she said. “Humans have always turned to nature. Whether it is the beach for healing and recovery, the countryside for peace and perspective or the mountains to find solitude, people have long sought comfort in the natural world. It is such a restorative environment, and incorporating nature into someone’s recovery pathway is vital.”
She also pointed out that nature can be healing in other ways. “We need to find the things that we can do alongside others, ways to connect and give back … Nature in this way can bring communities together, strengthen relationships and help foster a deeper sense of belonging for us all,” she said. “In that sense, healing and recovery is not simply about our individual experience, it is also a collective experience.”
