Duchess Kate says she is ‘deeply grateful’ in emotional video on 44th birthday

Duchess Kate has shared an emotional and deeply personal video about healing through nature as she turns 44.

The video, released on Friday, January 9, the Princess of Wales’s 44th birthday, is titled ‘Winter’ and is the fourth and final installment of the Royal Family’s quarterly ‘Mother Nature’ series, which began in 2025.

This moving film sees Princess Kate strolling on a bridge, dipping her hands in a stream, and standing in a reflective field in a frozen field, as she reflects on her own personal experiences of healing in voiceover.

“Even in the coldest and darkest of seasons, winter brings us serenity, patience, and quiet compassion. A place where the river slows down just enough to see our own reflections, to discover the deepest parts of ourselves, along with the whispers and heartbeats of every creature,” Kate’s narration begins.

“I find myself reflecting on how grateful I am,” continued Kate, who wore a green coat and matching newsboy cap for the film. “For the river in our hearts flows gently. Fears are washed away, cleansed and purified. With our tears, find peace and discover what it means to be alive.”

“Being one with nature. A quiet teacher and a gentle voice that guides us. Their memories heal us,” added the Duchess.

In the caption, the royal said her Mother Nature series is “a deeply personal and creative reflection on how nature has healed me. But it’s also a story about nature’s power and creativity in collective healing.”

“There is much we can learn from Mother Nature as we strive to create a happier, healthier world,” she added, ending her message with the letter “C”, a nod to Katherine’s first name.

People understand that the film captures Princess Kate on an early morning walk in Berkshire, where she lives with Prince William and their three children. The film also features locations such as London and the Cotswolds, and was shot by Will Waugh.

Kate’s ‘Mother Nature’ range was launched to coincide with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week in May 2025. The “Summer” episode was released in August, and the “Fall” movie was released on November 15th.

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The latest film will be released one year after the Princess of Wales announced in January 2025 that her cancer was in “remission”. She first made her cancer diagnosis public in March 2024, announcing that she was undergoing treatment including chemotherapy.

Kate has long been an advocate of connecting with nature, including the practice of “forest bathing,” and PEOPLE understands that she is keen to further explore nature’s power and creativity in healing and well-being in her work.

In the midst of cancer treatment in 2024, her love of the outdoors took on a deeper meaning.

In her first health update since announcing her cancer diagnosis, Duchess Kate shared a photo of herself posing outside in Windsor, where her family lives, leaning against a tree. (Kate, William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis moved into their new home, Forest Lodge, in October 2025.)

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE of the June 2024 photo, “She’s in nature, and that strengthens her, and she’s looking up as a real sign of hope and encouragement to everyone.” She also chose an outdoor setting to share her cancer diagnosis.

Duchess Kate also chose to honor Mother Nature on Mothering Sunday, the British equivalent of Mother’s Day, in March 2025 by sharing a video featuring numerous outdoor scenes.

“Nature has been our sanctuary for the past year,” Duchess Kate said in the caption of her Instagram post. “This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognize that our connection to the natural world not only nurtures us within, but also reminds us of the role we play in the rich tapestry of life.”

She signed the note “C”.