The Princess of Wales revealed that her 'connection to nature' was a 'healing' tool in her toughest times during a secret visit to a mental health charity last week.
Kate, 44, visited Dose of Nature, a pioneering mental health charity in Kew, London, that seeks to help individuals improve their wellbeing through clinical psychology and a close connection with the natural world.
There, she met with Dr Alison Greenwood, Clinical Lead Dr Georgina Gould, alongside members of the charity's team to learn about their forward-thinking approach to mental health support.
In a fond display of her commitment to understanding and supporting mental health, the royal toured the charity's Richmond-based site, Pensford Field, to conclude the charity's weekly 'Art in Nature' session.
During her visit, Kate spoke with Tom - a former participant of the programme who now volunteers as a Nature Guide at the charity - who shared the positive impact being outside has had on his self-confidence and resillience.
'Our journey has been very very different, but it's so wonderful to hear how your nature connection and how it's been so healing for you, and I felt the same,' Kate bravely shared with Tom.
'The fact that you're able to provide that to so many other people in this community; that sense of purpose and meaning, and belonging, through that experience.
'I think it is something that has got the longevity and the sustainability of feeling like, almost without knowing what's to come, without having the control in your life of knowing what the future might hold. The fact that you feel that you can cope with things, because you feel that interconnection, I think that makes it holistic in a very true essence.'
The Princess of Wales (pictured earlier this month) has revealed how her 'connection to nature' was a 'healing' tool during tough times during a secret visit to a mental health charity last week
Kate, 44 (pictured in May), visited Dose of Nature, a pioneering mental health charity in Kew, London, that seeks to help individuals improve their wellbeing through clinical psychology and a close connection with the natural world
Kate, who has spoken previously about her 'unseen' mental health battles during pregnancy, took time during her visit to speak with members of the group about how engaging with nature and creativity has been a healing tool.
Founded in 2018, Dose of Nature works alongside the NHS and GP referrals to help support individuals that are experiencing a range of mental health challenges.
Its 'Nature Prescription' programme seeks to help participants use nature to aid their wellbeing, with one-to-one guidance from Nature Guides and nature immersions set to provide a long-term frame of support.
Last year alone, the charity delivered a significant 547 Nature Prescriptions across the Boroughs of Richmond and Guildford.
In October, the Princess of Wales declared that 'spending quality time outdoors has never been more important' in a poignant message to parents.
Kate spoke from the heart about her lifelong initiative to better the lives of young children – urging parents to get youngsters to put down their phones and enjoy the great outdoors.
'Nature is such an extraordinary environment for us all and, in this tech-driven, digital age, spending quality time outdoors has never been more important,' the future queen said in a video shared to the couple's official Instagram.
Kensington Palace also released a new series of portraits of Kate in the countryside taken by Josh Shinner.
The princess looked radiant in her favourite wax jacket, under which she wore a patterned jumper and pie-frill blouse. Her hair was styled in loose waves.
Kate has long championed mental health causes and emphasised how nature had helped her 'heal' from cancer treatment in a video series released on her 44th birthday.
Kate has long championed mental health causes and previously emphasised how nature had helped her 'heal' from cancer treatment in a video series released on her 44th birthday
In a video released during Mental Health Awareness Week last year, Kate said: 'The natural world's capacity to inspire us, to nurture us and help us heal and grow is boundless and has been understood for generations.
'It is through nature that we can fully understand the true interconnectedness of all things, the importance of balance and the importance of renewal and resilience. Connecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us, and each other.'
In January, the Princess of Wales discussed her 'innate desire' to be out in nature during a mindfulness walk in the Peak District.
Kate spoke about the perspective she gains from visiting the great outdoors during the walk with Mind Over Mountains, which offers mental health support through outside experiences.
Wearing sturdy boots, gloves and a plait in her hair - which she did herself under a baker boy hat - the Princess spent 45 minutes in freezing, wet conditions walking to and from Baslow Edge in the Peak District, at around 300m altitude.
She stopped to see the spectacular view over the Derwent and Hope Valleys, with a brief pause in the rain timed perfectly for the short hike.
The charity organises mental health walks, complete with qualified counsellors and mindfulness coaches to help people connect with their surroundings while talking about their feelings and experiences.
The Princess, who had made a point of checking whether participants still wanted to go ahead in challenging weather conditions, said 'nothing' would have stopped her getting out into the hills.
She has spoken regularly about the importance of the natural world in her life, including her own cancer journey and continuing recovery after chemotherapy.