Kate Middleton praises new Natural History Museum gardens

Princess Catherine has praised the "power of nature" in a new statement, highlighting its importance in supporting "our development and wellbeing." Her remarks were shared in a series of stories on her official Instagram page, where she expressed her support for the opening of the Natural History Museum's new gardens.

In her message, Princess Catherine commended the museum's initiative to create a space that encourages people of all ages to reconnect with nature and learn about protecting the natural world. "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. 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," she said. "I hope these gardens will be inspiring and transformative for the thousands of people who visit."

The new gardens in central London opened to the public on Thursday, aiming to support urban nature, scientific research, and education. The site features a 22-metre-long bronze Diplodocus and includes the Nature Discovery Garden and the Evolution Garden, covering five acres around the museum in South Kensington. The landscape, described as a free-to-visit "outdoor gallery" and a "living laboratory," supports nature recovery amidst climate change. The £25 million project is expected to be one of the most intensively studied urban nature sites globally.

Princess Catherine's message follows her appearance at the Wimbledon men’s final, where she presented the trophy to Carlos Alcaraz. This was her second public engagement since announcing her cancer diagnosis. The Princess, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, spoke to ball boys and girls and attended the final with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister Pippa Matthews.