Princess of Wales says cold-water swimming brought calm during cancer recovery
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has revealed that an outdoor habit she swears by leaves her husband Prince William shaking his head.
Speaking about the role nature played during her cancer treatment and recovery, Catherine described the outdoors as her “sanctuary” during an especially difficult time. She shared that wild swimming, even in freezing conditions, became a source of peace and strength.
During an appearance on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, hosted by Mike Tindall, Catherine spoke candidly about her love of cold water. She admitted she will swim almost anywhere, regardless of the temperature, darkness, or weather.
“I love swimming wherever I can,” she said, adding that the colder the water, the better. She joked that William often tells her she is “crazy,” especially when it is dark, raining, and bitterly cold, but that never stops her from seeking out a place to swim.
Royal commentators say this connection to nature has taken on deeper meaning throughout her health journey. Speaking to OK!, royal expert Katie Nicholl said nature has been one of Catherine’s greatest sources of healing.
She explained that Catherine has been open about how important the natural world has been to her recovery, calling it a powerful and accessible form of comfort. Nicholl added that when Catherine shared news of her cancer diagnosis in 2024, she chose to do so while sitting outdoors in the gardens at Windsor, a detail that reflected how much solace she draws from nature.
According to Nicholl, Catherine has clearly found reassurance and calm in the outdoors, and it continues to play a quiet but central role in her wellbeing.
