Anyone who has observed Princess Kate and King Charles interacting at public engagements will have noticed the love and respect running through their relationship.
From shared smiles and jokes to following royal protocols with curtsies, it's clear the father and daughter-in-law have a deep bond, likely strengthened by both of them undergoing cancer treatment at the same time.
Over the weekend, it was evident that King Charles' approach to health had influenced the Princess of Wales when she took to social media to share a lengthy caption about her approach to life during and post-cancer treatment, following taking on the Three Peaks Challenge.
© Getty ImagesKing Charles' influence over Princess Kate
In her note, Princess Kate explained her appreciation of holistic therapies, writing: "Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare."
Diving into the concept of holistic healthcare, the future Queen continued: "Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients' ability to maintain their wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time."
Holistic healthcare comprises looking after the body, mind, spirit and emotions, rather than focusing on just the illness, and it's an approach King Charles has long subscribed to, with a reliance on homeopathic medicine central to his approach to living well.
King Charles' homeopathic healthcare
King Charles is known to be a firm supporter of homeopathy, and in the book Charles: The Alternative Prince, author Edward Ernst wrote that the King: "Takes a great interest in [alternative medicine]."
© Getty ImagesThe author also told The Scientist in 2022 that King Charles and "wants to use – as much as possible – alternative medicine in the NHS nationally and in medicine globally".
So strong is his belief in homeopathy, King Charles holds the role of Royal Patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy, plus the head of his royal medical household, Dr. Michael Dixon, is a fan of the practice too.
In a statement to The Sunday Times about Dr. Dixon, Buckingham Palace said: "His position is that complementary therapies can sit alongside conventional treatments, where they are safe, appropriate and evidence-based," and this appears to be the tact that the King takes, too.
Diving into homeopathy
Homeopathy is a type of holistic medicine that works to stimulate the body's own healing response and is helpful in supporting emotional wellbeing.
© Getty ImagesLeading homeopath Lauren Johnson Reynolds elaborates: "The prescription of homeopathic remedies is always bespoke to the individual and can take into account the mental and emotional symptoms that may arise from a cancer diagnosis as well as the toll that the challenging treatments can take on mental health."
While there are no claims that homeopathy can cure ailments, it's a helpful addition to holistic care, as part of a wider treatment plan, and one we have no doubt both Princess Kate and King Charles have explored during their cancer treatment.
