Heartwarming: Princess Catherine Puts Family Holiday on Hold for Special Message

The Prince and Princess of Wales are now enjoying some quality time with their three children on their school holidays, but Kate showed her support for a special project with a new message.

The royal, 42, has been patron of the Natural History Museum since 2013, and the site opened new gardens within its grounds in South Kensington on Thursday.

Kate wrote in a message on Instagram Stories: “I am hugely supportive of the Museum’s commitment to create a special space which encourages people of all ages to reconnect with nature and learn more about how we can protect our natural world.

“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 new gardens feature grassland, wetland and woodland habitats for visitors to explore, as well as a showstopping 22-metre-long Diplodocus as a centrepiece, affectionately named Fern by children in the local community.

While the Prince and Princess of Wales are currently spending some much-needed time with their three kids during their school break, Catherine expressed her support for a unique project with a recent post.

The 42-year-old royal has supported the Natural History Museum since 2013, and on Thursday, the institution in South Kensington unveiled new gardens on its property.

“I am hugely supportive of the Museum’s commitment to create a special space which encourages people of all ages to reconnect with nature and learn more about how we can protect our natural world,” Catherine wrote in an Instagram Stories message.

“I am aware of how nature can contribute to our growth and well-being by making us happy and maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. I hope that the thousands of visitors to these gardens will find inspiration and transformation here.”

The newly created gardens offer visitors the opportunity to explore grassland, wetland, and woodland habitats. The centerpiece of the garden is a striking 22-meter-long Diplodocus that the local kids have dubbed Fern.

In 2021, Catherine paid a visit to the site to observe its progress. The local schoolchildren were taken aback when the then Duchess of Cambridge showed up for an immersive story-telling walk, made spiders out of pinecones, and assisted scientists in attaching an acoustic monitoring device to a cherry tree so they could record wildlife activity in the garden. She was dressed for the engagement in a pink blazer and high-waisted jeans.

The kids were also given the opportunity to sample a homemade jar of honey that the Princess had made at Anmer Hall using her own bees.

An image of Catherine, who is an enthusiastic beekeeper, was released in 2023 to commemorate World Bee Day, showing her tending to her Norfolk beehive.

Last public appearance

The message from the royal was sent out a few days after she attended the Wimbledon Men’s Final last Sunday with her nine-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte and Catherine’s sister Pippa Matthews, for her second public appearance of the year.

Carlos Alcaraz, the Wimbledon Champion, accepted the trophy from the Princess after his victory over Novak Djokovic.

After the match, when Charlotte, a fellow tennis fan, met Spanish player Alcaraz behind closed doors, she had the cutest reaction.

Since Catherine’s treatment is still ongoing, it is unknown when she will resume her responsibilities full-time.

The Princess gave this personal update prior to her June appearance at Trooping the Colour: “I have been so touched by all of the wonderful messages of encouragement and support that I have received over the past few months. For William and me, it has truly meant the world and gotten us through some really difficult times.

“I am progressing well, but there are good days and bad days, as anyone undergoing chemotherapy is aware. You have to give in to your body’s need for rest on those bad days when you feel weak and exhausted. On the other hand, you want to take full advantage of feeling well on your good days, when you feel stronger.

“I will continue to receive treatment for a few more months. When I’m feeling well enough, I enjoy participating in school activities, spending time doing things that make me feel good about myself, and beginning to work from home occasionally.”