The Princess of Wales has spoken of a “very spiritual and very intense” emotional connection to nature, describing the outdoors as a place where she finds “balance and peace in a very busy world.”
In a video shared by Kensington Palace, the Princess reflected on her relationship with nature during a recent trip to the Lake District, filmed as part of her ongoing work with the Scouts in her role as joint president.
The footage, shared on social media, showed her helping children read maps, walking through woodland, and talking to Scouts on the shores of Lake Windermere.
“I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection I suppose, these environments,” she said. “Not everyone has that same relationship, perhaps, with nature, but it is 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.”
The visit was not listed in the Court Circular and took place while the Princess, who is currently in remission from cancer, continues her gradual return to public life. The palace noted that the countryside visit allowed her to “deepen connections with ourselves and each other while building our skills of empathy, resilience and our sense of belonging.”
The Princess met Scouts aged 10 to 15 from Cumbria and Greater Manchester who were working toward their naturalist badge. Pointing at a map, she told them: “It’s so beautiful because so many of the walks here, you can see Lake Windermere because it’s huge, isn’t it? Look how hilly it is over here. Have you done any of these big mountains?”
She also praised the enduring values of the Scout movement: “What’s so fantastic about the Scouts is that all those same foundations that have always been there… it still resonates for so many young people, and it’s making such a massive difference to them.”
She was joined by Dwayne Fields, who succeeded Bear Grylls as Chief Scout last September. He emphasized the impact of nature on young people’s development: “I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature because it’s a space where they can push themselves… we’ll build up a generation that is passionate about our natural spaces and passionate about protecting them as well.”
Fields added that having the Princess as joint president was “great for the Scout movement” and described their screen-free day in the hills as “magical.” He said, “We are often at our best in the outdoors, and I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves.”
Kensington Palace said the video aims to highlight “the importance of the natural world and its ability to support our health and well-being.”
Source: The Telegraph
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