The Princess of Wales has described nature as her ‘sanctuary’ during her recovery from cancer, explaining how time outdoors offers relief from expectations and a reminder that rest matters as much as progress.

Speaking to Robert Macfarlane, the author known for his writing on landscapes and the living world, Kate linked the rhythms of nature to the uneven course of recovery.

“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.”

She drew a parallel with the natural world: “It shows us that periods of rest, reflection and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth.”

The conversation appears in a special edition of Country Life, guest-edited by her husband, Prince William, and published on Wednesday, 11 November. The Prince of Wales follows his father, King Charles, his stepmother, Queen Camilla, and his aunt, Princess Anne, in guest-editing the weekly magazine.

For Kate, nature’s particular comfort lies in its lack of demands. “It doesn't ask anything of us. It doesn't judge us or expect us to perform,” she said. “It simply allows us to be. It really has been my sanctuary and a place I’ve instinctively wanted to go.”

Her reflections also connected personal solace with a wider sense of belonging. Asked where she found hope, she spoke of nature’s lesson that people are not alone but connected to something larger than themselves.

Macfarlane described finding hope in communities working to protect rivers. Kate agreed, stressing the importance of doing things alongside others, connecting and giving back. She also praised Mind Over Mountains, a charity combining walks in nature and mindfulness with support from experienced wellbeing counsellors.

The discussion extended to her longstanding early childhood work and the value she places on children spending time outdoors. She recalled playing in streams, picking blackberries and enjoying time alone, experiences that gave her a distinctive sense of freedom.

“It is something I remind myself to do with my own children; to give them freedom to explore, rather than constantly telling them what to see or what to think”, she said.