To mark the grand opening of the Natural History Museum gardens in London, Kensington Palace released a carousel of photos of Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, along with a personal message from the Princess of Wales—and something about them immediately captured my attention.
In a new pic shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Instagram Story, the 42-year-old princess is standing in the museum’s garden while surrounded by a group of adults and children.
The palace also shared a message written by Princess Catherine that read: “I am hugely supportive of the Museum’s commitment to create a special space, which encourages people of all ages to reconnect with nature and learn more about how we can protect our natural world.”
At the time, the mother of three, 42, rocked a brown blazer with a plain white top and blue denim jeans. After analyzing the photo, something about the royal princess immediately caught my eye: her ability to put others at ease with her radiant smile. In the snap below, Princess Catherine is looking toward the sky with a bright smile on her face. The children she’s with point excitedly to the sky, clearly feeling comfortable and at ease even though they’re in the presence of royalty.
I noticed the same thing in the second photo too. Not only was the princess all smiles, but she was also using her go-to parenting move to further put those around her at ease. While talking to a group of kids, the royal can be seen bending down at eye level to talk to them—a move that can level the playing field and help create open communication as well as a safe environment for the child to speak freely.
Princess Catherine’s message continued, “I know the power of nature to support our development and wellbeing, both by bringing us joy and helping to keep us physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. I hope these gardens will be inspiring and transformative for the thousands of people who visit.”
Earlier this week, my colleague reported on the Princess of Wales’s appearance at Wimbledon, where her smile was on full display. In a series of photos released this week, the future queen was beaming, exuding joy and positivity.
This goes without saying: Princess Catherine has a smile that can light up a room (or a garden).