Across their decades ofvice, the Prince and Princess of Wales have become familiar figures to the British public, a reassuring presence in times of trouble or a joyous addition to any national celebration. But between the gala dinners and opening ceremonies, the Bond premiers and the jubilees, Catherine and have always remained at an oh-so-royal distance, keeping their private lives private and their romance under wraps.
It’s why Catherine’s highly-personal announcing the end of her chemotherapy treatment was so out of the ordinary for the Princess: three minutes of never-seen-before home footage of the Wales family, removed from the trappings of royal luxury, enjoying their summer holiday in. Card games with the children and their grandparents, trips out to the beach, a picnic and a peck on the cheek – in the forest’s dappled light of the woods, the Waleses, for once, could have been anyone.
But that, it seems, was precisely what Catherine had in mind. In addition to revealing the end of her chemotherapy journey, which she admitted has been ‘incredibly tough’ and ‘scary’ for the family,issued a heartfelt message to all of those ith the illness. ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand,’ she said. ‘Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.’
s been by her side throughout their own cancer journey. King Charles, her father-in-law, is said to have grown closer to Catherine as the pair underwent treatment, and in this most personal of videos, the Princess of Wales included a touching tribute to the King.
The family chose to film the message at Anmer Hall, the Norfolk estate that has played host to many of their summer retreats. Amid the footage of oyfully playing in the local countryside, edited with a vintage grain that harkens back to the kind of photos we might once have seen of a young Princess Elizabeth, the video showed the young Prince sweeping through the air on a wooden swing. The item of furniture holds particular sentimental value for William and Catherine – a present from King Charles, the swing was gifted to the couple to celebrate their wedding back in 2011.
According to , the oak-carved set hangs from natural rope to a tree in the gardens of Anmer Hall. The words ‘William and Catherine’ are hand engraved on the swing, which has often featured in some of the family’s most personal photos. From George’s third birthday portrait to a fathers’ day photo of William and the children, King Charles’ gift to the Prince and Princess of Wales no doubt serves as a reminder of the interminable bond between the three generations of the royal family.