Princess Kate hosted her annual Together At Christmas carol service in December(Image: PA)

Kate Middleton celebrates her 43rd birthday as she plans return to work

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, turns 43 today, and will mark her birthday in Windsor with Prince William, and their children; George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis

by · The Mirror

Princess Kate will today celebrate her 43rd birthday surrounded by family — as she prepares for a “gradual return” to royal duties.

The Princess of Wales, who was largely out of the public eye in 2024 after having abdominal surgery followed by treatment for cancer, will mark her birthday in Windsor with Prince William, and their children; George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis.

And it is understood she is about to continue her slow return to royal duties, following the hosting of her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey last month. However, royal fans have been warned not to expect Kate to be "rushing back to the same volume of work" as before.

Tours abroad are not thought to be on the table as yet too, as Kate takes gradual steps back to a full schedule. Her "primary focus", though, will be her Centre for Early Childhood and UK-based engagements, reports tonight claim.

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Kate and William are pictured in November at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance service( Image: PA)

Kate will also support the Royal Family at events such as Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot and the Remembrance Day commemorations.

A source told The Sun: “There is no huge reset button on her work and if you look to the back end of 2024 there was a gradual return of the Princess of Wales into more public engagements.

"That gradual return will continue into 2025 and it was an extremely warm and wonderful bookend to 2024 to see her at the carol service, and she continues that gradual return."

Kensington Palace is working on her 2025 programme, which “balances work, being a mum and supporting her wider family” and public-facing engagements will continue this year. A further source said: "It would be wonderful to see the Princess of Wales up and down the country and this year I’m sure that will be the case."

Prince William, Prince of Wales, is, meanwhile, expected to travel abroad for official royal engagements and will also take his annual £50million Earthshot Prize to another corner of the globe in the autumn.