Kate Middleton's Trooping the Colour Announcement Photo Reportedly Had This Hidden Meaning
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When Kate Middleton decided to appear at Trooping the Colour on Saturday, June 15, she knew that no ordinary photo would do for the announcement. She shared a new picture, taken by Matt Porteous, on the grounds of Windsor. The introspective snapshot underneath a large tree was exactly the message she wanted to get across to royal fans, and experts are now chiming in on her hidden message.
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The Princess of Wales surrounding herself in nature isn’t surprising since she is known to favor a Japanese practice called “forest bathing,” or “shinrin-yoku,” according to People. It’s a “form of ecotherapy” that emerged in the 1980s with the science-backed idea that “time spent immersed in nature is good for us,” per National Geographic. For Kate, the image is a sign of positivity because she’s in the habitat she loves the most, nature. “There she is in nature, which has fortified her, and looking upward in a sign of real hope and encouragement for everybody,” Sally Bedell Smith, author of Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess, told People.
I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.
I am making good progress, but as anyone going… pic.twitter.com/J1jTlgwRU8— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 14, 2024
Ailsa Andersen, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, described the photo as “reflective” of the season of life she’s in amid her cancer battle. “She could have posted an image of her with William or the kids. Even though she has a huge amount of support from others, it is a journey you have to do on your own,” she explained. “[The photo] was her on her own; it was reflective.” Kate’s hopeful message also revealed how her prognosis is on the upswing while cautioning that she’s “not out of the woods” yet.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well,” she wrote. I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”
Kate’s battle with cancer will continue to remain private, but her summer calendar might be sprinkled with a few royal engagements, if she’s feeling up to it. “She couldn’t have picked a better moment to reappear in public,” Bedell Smith shared. “She didn’t seem to stop smiling. She looked so happy to be there. It was spellbinding to watch her.”
Before you go, click here to see the best photos of the royal family at Trooping the Colour over the years.
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