A new photograph of the Princess of Wales taken by Prince Louis, her youngest child, has been released ahead of World Cancer Day, showing her spreading her arms in a wintery wood.

The photograph, taken by the six-year-old during a family outing in Windsor earlier this year, shows the Princess in a warm coat and hat, stretching her arms out wide as she stands on a log.

It is the first photograph the public has seen from Prince Louis, who has featured in numerous pictures released by Kensington Palace over the years but never been behind the camera until now.

A second image, taken by the Princess, shows a fern covered in light frost, with a written message about the importance of nurturing “all that lies beyond” cancer.

The images were accompanied by a message from the Princess, who is in remission from cancer. “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease,” she wrote in a media message signed “C” for Catherine. The post was tagged #WorldCancerDay.

The Princess has spoken regularly of the importance of being outside and in nature, and how continuing to do the things that bring her joy has helped her recovery.

The Princess has written and spoken of the importance of being outside on several occasions, previously using images of her underneath a large willow tree and a video shot in the Norfolk countryside to accompany her health updates.

In June, she spoke of not being “out of the woods” yet, adding: “On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”

She has also referred to the importance of positivity, using the imagery of coming into the light in a September statement and in the run-up to her Christmas carol concert.

“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand,” she said in a video in September. “Out of darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright.”

The decision to use a photograph taken by one of her children also underlined the Princess’ focus on the well-being of her young family during her diagnosis and treatment.

“I feel like it’s sometimes harder for the loved ones around us,” she said at the Royal Marsden last month. “They need support just as much as I did as the patient.”

Buckingham Palace is also expected to mark World Cancer Day with a social media post on Tuesday.

The King received a cancer diagnosis last year and continues to undergo regular treatment. He has made raising awareness of cancer symptoms and research part of his public work, and dedicated his first public engagement after his diagnosis to visiting a cancer hospital.

Both the King and the Princess have spent time sharing their personal experience of cancer during visits, being praised by cancer charities for their openness.