Future Queen’s meaningful connection to the outdoors shapes her path in the monarchy
Catherine is making thoughtful preparations for her future role as Queen, drawing on her personal values and love of nature as she returns to public life.
With Harry being readied to take the throne “at a moment's notice” due to King Charles' ongoing cancer treatment, Catherine has been focusing on her own recovery following nine months of cancer treatment, gradually resuming her royal duties.
Having grown up in the countryside of Berkshire, Catherine has long credited nature for helping her heal and find balance. She has described time outdoors as giving her “a sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world.”
Her affinity for nature was on full display during her 2011 wedding to William at Westminster Abbey. The couple chose a tree-lined altar adorned with 30,000 blooms, many sourced from Windsor Great Park's Valley Gardens — a meaningful nod to the future Queen's rural upbringing.
According to Hello!’s Lifestyle Editor Nichola Murphy, this choice reflected more than just style. “It suited the grandeur of the venue but also hinted at her love of nature – something she continues to champion today,” Murphy noted. Catherine's childhood in Bucklebury was filled with gardening, arts, and crafts, further shaping her appreciation for the natural world.
At the time, wedding florist Shane Connolly described the couple’s decision as “full of resilience and full of strong love” — qualities that continue to define Catherine’s approach as she prepares for the next chapter of her royal life.
