Princess Kate takes on role of Scout Leader as she helps kids read their map on wilderness adventure
THE Princess of Wales told stress to take a hike as she went Scout and about in the British countryside.
Kate, 43, met Chief Scout Dwayne Fields for the first time, and celebrated the power of the great outdoors.
The countryside has become a key theme for Kate who has hailed connection with nature as helping her recovery from cancer.
She is Joint President of the The Scouts Association with the Duke of Kent and was filmed in the Lake District last month, but released today.
Chief Scout Dwayne asked the princess what she thinks about when she visits the countryside after “all the stresses and strains of regular life”?
She 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.”
Speaking afterwards, Dwayne described the “few hours we spent in the hills” as “magical”.
He added: I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves.
“Outdoor adventures can build the vital skills young people need for the rest of their lives, they hugely benefit health and wellbeing, and boost friendships. And with the help of more adult volunteers, we hope to get more young people out into nature in the future.”
And said: “I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature because it’s a space where they can push themselves, they can challenge themselves.”
They met a group of Scouts aged between 10 and 15-years-old on a walk near the shores of Lake Windermere.
The Princess has been Joint President of Scouts since 2020 and this was the first time she had Dwayne Fields, who took on his role as Chief Scout last September.
Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery
JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent abdominal surgery
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside
JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week
JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital
FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the Princess at farm shop near Windsor
Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior
Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis
April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos
June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel’s Review but pens letter to Irish Guards revealing: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon”
June 15: Kate attends Trooping the Colour alongside her family
July 14: Kate attends the Wimbledon Men’s Final with Princess Charlotte
August 11: Kate and William release video congratulating Team GB after the Paris Olympics
September 9: Kate shares moving video revealing she has finished chemotherapy
Jan 14: Kate reveals she is in remission after her cancer battle.
Prince Louis snap
Kate appeared to be wearing the same hat she donned when Prince Louis took a photo on a walk in woods near Windsor to mark World Cancer Day.
The snaps of in nature were posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account.
Kate was pictured by the six-year-old Prince with her arms spread out wide.
The sweet image was shared along with a sweet message about “what lies beyond the disease“.
A second image taken by the Princess showed leaves covered in frost.
Kate’s message read: “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease. C #WorldCancerDay”
It was the first ever image taken by Louis that has been released to the general public.
Kate is a keen amateur photographer who has previously shared photos of her children for significant celebrations.
Nature featured heavily in Kate’s video last September which revealed she had completed her chemotherapy.
She has made a gradual return to royal duties ever since then.
Last month, the Princess of Wales shared another poignant message to mark Mother’s Day.
The short video featured shots of her and William in Norfolk.
Kate called on other mums around the world to “nurture” their “inner selves”.
“Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary,” she wrote, following her cancer diagnosis last March.
“This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognise how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life. C.”
The post came a year after the future queen shared her diagnosis in an emotional video statement.
In January, Kate spoke of her “relief” as she disclosed she is in remission after her battle with the disease.
The Royal Family also chimed in with a message commemorating the special day.
King Charles and Queen Camilla paid tribute to their own mums with images of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1956 and The Queen’s late mother, Rosalind, with her eldest grandson, Tom.
“Wishing all mothers, and those who are missing theirs today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,” the post uploaded to Instagram read.
It comes after Kate shared a seperate video of her children on a picnic and playing games with the Middletons from the same trip to Norfolk in September.
The footage starts with the family walking in a forest with Kate, who does the voice over.
She said: “As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.
“Life as you know it can change in an instant and we’ve had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
Last summer, the Princess of Wales hailed the healing power of nature as she continued her cancer treatment.
Posting an upbeat message to social media as patron of the Natural History Museum, Kate promoted its Urban Nature Project launch.
In the social media post, she wrote: “I know the power of nature to support our development and wellbeing, both by bringing us joy and helping to keep us physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.
“I hope these gardens will be inspiring and transformative for the thousands of people who visit.”
The message came with photos of the Princess’s visit to the Urban Nature Project in 2021.
It looked to help people reconnect with the natural world and to understand the role of nature in our towns and cities.