The Princess of Wales has marked her 44th birthday today with a 'deeply personal' video about the comfort she has taken from nature during her cancer treatment, saying how 'deeply grateful' she is 'to discover what it means to be alive'. 

Kensington Palace released the final instalment of their year-long 'Mother Nature' video series - Winter - which has a voice-over from Catherine and features footage of her on an early morning walk in Berkshire, close to her Windsor home.

An aide described today's release as 'the culmination of a deeply personal creative project for The Princess, spotlighting humanity's longstanding connection to nature, as well as nature's capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit'.

In the voiceover for the Winter episode, Her Royal Highness reflects personally on her own journey and healing over the past two years, talking of her 'fears' and 'tears', as well as her healing and how she is 'deeply grateful'.

She says: 'Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration.

'Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection.

'To discover the deepest parts of ourselves. Alongside the whispers in the pulse of every living thing.

'I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am.

The royal family's official Instagram account shared a touching happy birthday message for the Princess of Wales today

The video featured the Princess of Wales enjoying the wonders of nature through the season

In the voiceover for the Winter episode, Her Royal Highness reflects personally on her own journey and healing over the past two years, following her cancer diagnosis

The princess underwent major abdominal surgery in January 2024 after which doctors found evidence of cancer and she underwent a course of gruelling preventative chemotherapy (Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday)

'For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive.

'To be at one with nature; a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory. Helping us to heal.'

There was also a personally-penned caption saying: 'The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing.

'There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C.'

The princess underwent major abdominal surgery in January 2024 after which doctors found evidence of cancer and she underwent a course of gruelling preventative chemotherapy.