Editorial: The sensitive winter message from the Princess of Wales about the importance of gratitude will resonate with people

​The Princess of Wales, who turned 44 yesterday, was born near to the height of winter.

​Kate Middleton emerged into the world on January 9, just before the coldest point in the calendar and just after the darkest.

In a sensitive and intriguing last post in her quarterly Mother Nature series, the princess said: “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience … I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am.”

It is a year since she revealed she was in remission from cancer, and almost two since her admission that she was battling the disease.

Like the best of the royal family, she never complains, never explains – in contrast to public figures who wear their hearts on their sleeves in ways that might be endearing, but can also seem self-pitying and queasy.

The royals have been in a difficult situation for several years now, having lost a number of working family members, including the late Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, who kept up a punishing rota of public engagements far into retirement age. Meanwhile, King Charles revealed that he too had cancer. He too avoids any hint of self-pity.

It is striking to hear Kate talk about her gratitude – a cancer diagnosis is the sort of shock that makes people suddenly value ongoing life.

It is easy for us all to lack gratitude and to focus on the problems in our lives and overlook the good things. Gratefulness is emphasised in the main monotheistic religions. Biblical verses on this include Philippians 4:6: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’

Meanwhile, Kate’s reflections on darkness will resonate in this province, one of the darker, more northerly parts of these islands. We are two weeks past the solstice and the slow return of light and hope is already evident.