Prince Louis was behind the lens for this photograph of the Princess of Wales in Windsor. Photo / @princeandprincessofwales
Prince Louis was behind the lens for this photograph of the Princess of Wales in Windsor. Photo / @princeandprincessofwales
A new photograph of the Princess of Wales taken by her youngest child, Prince Louis, has been released before World Cancer Day, showing her spreading her arms in a wintry wood.
The Princess, photographed in Windsor this year, is seen in a warm coat and hat, stretching her arms out wide while standing on a log.
A second image, taken by the Princess, shows a fern, covered in light frost, with a written message about the importance of nurturing “all that lies beyond” cancer.
“Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease,” she wrote in a social media message signed “C” for Catherine. It was tagged #WorldCancerDay.
The photo was taken by Prince Louis, 6, during a family outing near their home in Windsor.
The Princess has spoken regularly of the importance of being outside in nature and how continuing to do the things that bring her joy has helped with her recovery.
This year she has made a return to work, beginning with a visit to the Royal Marsden hospital in London where she met with fellow cancer patients and shared a little about her own experience.
Prince William shared this photo of the Princess of Wales to mark her 43rd birthday. Photo / @princeandprincessofwales
It is the first photograph the public has seen from Prince Louis, who has featured in numerous pictures released by Kensington Palace over the years, but never been behind the camera until now.
The Princess is a keen amateur photographer and is understood to have fostered a love of it in her young children too.
Princess embraces outdoors and positivity
The chosen image speaks to several themes the Princess has embraced since her illness.
She has written and spoken of the importance of being outside on several occasions, previously using images of her underneath a large willow tree and a video shot in the Norfolk countryside to accompany her health updates.
The Princess of Wales pictured with Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George. Photo / Getty Images
In June, she spoke of not being “out of the woods” yet: “On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”
She has also referred to the importance of positivity, using the imagery of coming into the light in a September statement and in the run-up to her Christmas carol concert.
“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand,” she said in a September video. “Out of darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright.”
The decision to use a photograph taken by one of her children also underlines the Princess’ focus on the wellbeing of her young family during her diagnosis and treatment.
“I feel like it’s sometimes harder for the loved ones around us,” the Princess said at the Royal Marsden in January. “They need support just as much as I did as the patient.”
Buckingham Palace is also expected to mark World Cancer Day with a social media post on Tuesday.
King Charles received a cancer diagnosis last year and continues to undergo regular treatment.
He has made raising awareness of cancer symptoms and research part of his public work and also dedicated his first public engagement after diagnosis to a visit to a cancer hospital.
Both the King and the Princess have spent time sharing their personal experience of cancer during visits, winning praise from cancer charities for their openness.
