Prince William sends touching birthday message to ‘incredible wife and mother’ Kate

The Prince of Wales has sent a touching personal message to his wife Kate on her 43rd birthday.

He described the Princess of Wales as the "most incredible wife and mother" and praised her for her strength during a tough year after she was diagnosed with cancer.

The prince shared the personal message on the royal couple's social media profiles, signing the post off with a W.

The post was accompanied by a new, unseen black and white picture of Kate taken by Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer. In the photo, Kate, wearing a gingham scarf, is smiling with her hands in her jean pockets.

In his message, William wrote: “To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W”

The royal family also sent birthday wishes to the princess on the monarchy’s official social media account. The post read “Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales!” followed by a birthday cake emoji. It was accompanied by a photo of Kate smiling as she collected bouquets of flowers from wellwishers while attending church in Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Kate is reportedly celebrating her 43rd birthday quietly at home with her husband. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will spend the day at school before a family celebration in the evening.

In 2024, Kate underwent abdominal surgery before being diagnosed with cancer and has since undergone chemotherapy treatment. Next week marks a year since she was admitted to hospital for her operation.

William has previously described the past year as a “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life. His father, the King, was also diagnosed with cancer.

Kate has shared heartfelt updates on her cancer treatment over the past 12 months, having previously endured spiralling online conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts after her operation. In September, she confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed in a deeply personal video how she, William and their children had faced an “incredibly tough” time.

She said: “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,” and added: “The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”

The princess’s birthday coincides with the state funeral of former US president Jimmy Carter. But William has remained at home with Kate, with his uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, travelling to Washington DC to represent Charles.