Royal Family LIVE: Kate Middleton releases personal video as King sends sweet message
The Princess of Wales is celebrating her 44th birthday today, and birthday wishes have already started to flood in, including a very special message from the King
by Jennifer Newton, Charlotte Foster · The MirrorIt's a big day for the Princess of Wales today as she celebrates her 44th birthday - a day after making a surprise appearance to show support for under pressure NHS staff.
Kate is expected to mark her big day quietly at home at Windsor surrounded by her family, including her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The princess’s birthday today falls just days before the first anniversary of her announcement at the start of 2025 that she was in remission from cancer.
And already she has been flooded with birthday wishes, which have included a very special message from the King. The Royal Family's official social media accounts posted a picture of Kate, taken last year at Colchester Hospital, with the message: "Wishing a Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales", with a birthday cake emoji.
Kate has also marked her birthday with the release of a very personal video in her Mother Nature series, as she spoke of her gratitude for healing from cancer and continuing to immerse herself in nature. In her most personal reflection of her cancer journey, the princess said being able to heal in nature had allowed her to “Come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive.”
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10:19Jennifer Newton
Kate's poignant message
In the voiceover for Kate's birthday video, the Princess reflects personally on her own journey and healing over the past two years.
She says: "Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration. Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection.
“To discover the deepest parts of ourselves. Alongside the whispers in the pulse of every living thing. I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am.
"For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive. To be at one with nature; a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory. Helping us to heal."
10:16Russell Myers
Kate Middleton shares emotional reflection of cancer journey in birthday video
The Princess of Wales has spoken of her gratitude for healing from cancer and continuing to immerse herself in nature as she marks her 44th birthday.
Today, Kate has released and appeared the final instalment of the Mother Nature video series – Winter. In her most personal reflection of her cancer journey, the princess said being able to heal in nature had allowed her to “Come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive.”
The release of the film is the culmination of a deeply personal creative project for the princess, spotlighting humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, as well as nature’s capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit, Kensington Palace said.
10:16Bradley Jolly
Bombshell twist in Prince Harry police protection case 'will change everything'
The Duke of Sussex's win in his fight secure automatic armed police protection "would change everything," a royal source has stressed.
A ruling, reportedly thought to be in Prince Harry's favour, is set to be announced in the coming weeks after a lengthy battle to have his taxpayer-funded security while in the UK restored. Harry himself is thought to be confident on the triumph, which it is believed would lessen his concerns about bring his children to visit the UK occasionally.
And this could potentially allow King Charles to see little Archie and Lilibet for the first time since June 2022, when the latter had just turned one. However, experts argue the ruling would also cause huge controversy, such as allowing Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, to become "half in, half out" royals. A friend of the royals said: "A win for Harry and Meghan would change everything."
10:16Christopher Sharp
'I've covered Prince William and Kate's relationship for 20 years and realised one thing'
A royal commentator, who has been covering Kate Middleton and Prince William’s relationship for two decades, has said she's realised one thing about the Princess.
Speaking in a documentary about the Princess of Wales, royal correspondent for Vanity Fair Katie Nicholl ruminated on the pair’s relationship, the seeds of which were sown when they both attended St Andrew’s University in the early-2000s.
In the documentary, Katie said she realises that it was almost as if Kate was “born” for the role of Queen, as she told The Sun: “I've covered William and Kate's relationship since they met at St. Andrews and you know nearly 20 years ago. And I think when you look back on Kate and how she conducted herself then it is almost as if she was born to do this to do this role.”
10:16Jennifer Newton
King's birthday wishes for Kate
One of the first official posts to wish the Princess of Wales a Happy Birthday came from the official Royal Family social media accounts.
They shared a picture of Kate, taken last year at Colchester Hospital, with the message: "Wishing a Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales", with a birthday cake emoji.