The Prince of Wales has released a deeply personal message to mark The Princess’ 43rd Birthday.
Taking to Kensington Palace’s social media channels, William said: ‘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 Prince of Wales said who was so proud of his wife who has undergone treatment for cancer in 2024. (Kensington Palace/video still)
The Prince’s message comes after Catherine was diagnosed with cancer and underwent preventative chemotherapy. As such, The Princess of Wales stepped back from public duties to focus on her health and conducted a few public engagements last year. The Princess’ engagements in 2024 have included Trooping the Colour to celebrate Charles’ birthday, meeting the families of the girls killed in Stockport and attending Wimbledon in the summer.
In a moving video message broadcast in September, the Princess shared that her cancer journey is ongoing, describing her ‘path to healing and full recovery’ as long. She emphasised taking one day at a time but expressed optimism about resuming work and engaging in more public commitments in the months ahead.
In addition, Kensington Palace has released a new photograph of The Princess. The previously unseen photograph was taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer.
A new photograph of Th Princess of Wales has been released. (Kensington Palace)
Last year following the Earthshot Prize, Prince William opened up about the toll 2024 took on him and his family, William described it as ‘dreadful’ and ‘the hardest year’ of his life. He admitted, ‘trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult’.
Earlier in the year, the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery, later revealing she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer. Shortly after Catherine’s surgery, King Charles III was treated for an enlarged prostate, which led to a cancer diagnosis. Reflecting on their resilience, William said he was ‘so proud’ of his wife and father for their strength but admitted, ‘from a family point of view, it’s been brutal’.
