Prince William reveals previously unseen photo of Kate Middleton and shares deeply emotional message to mark the Princess’s 43rd birthday after ‘brutal’ year

The Prince of Wales today shared a sweet birthday tribute to the Princess of Wales, calling her the “most incredible wife and mother” alongside an unseen photo of her.

In an unusually personal message, William praised his wife’s strength, adding that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were ‘so proud of her’.

The future king signed the message with ‘Congratulations, Catherine. We love you. W’.

The sweet message was shared with a new, unseen photo of the Princess of Wales, taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer.

The black and white image shows the princess relaxing at home, wearing jeans and a checked scarf.

A personal message – and an unseen photo – is unusual for the royal family on a non-important birthday.

It may be the most emotional message William has ever told his wife.

“To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you have shown over the past year is remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy birthday, Catherine. We love you. W,” reads the message shared on Instagram and Twitter.

It comes after the King and Queen shared their own tributes to Kate this morning, while many members of the public and Kate’s patronages also sent well wishes.

Taking to their Instagram account, the King and Queen shared a sweet photo of Kate Middleton from her Christmas Day walk at Sandringham,

They added a sweet caption that read, “Congratulations to the Princess of Wales,” on top of the photo of her beaming and holding a bouquet of flowers.

The royal mother of three, who was born in Reading on January 9, 1982, turns 43 today after suffering an ‘annus horribilis’ in 2024.

Shortly after her 42nd birthday last January, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales had been taken to hospital for abdominal surgery and that she would be taking a break from her public duties while she recovered.

However, her time out of the spotlight fueled wild speculation about her health and in March 2024, the Princess released an extremely candid clip in which she announced to the world that doctors had determined that “cancer was present in her body” after running tests.

The news sent the nation, and indeed the world, into shock as Kate revealed she would undergo chemotherapy treatment and step back from her public duties indefinitely while she prioritized her recovery.

Meanwhile, Prince William also reduced his public involvement as he focused on family life and his wife’s recovery – and while his father, King Charles, was also undergoing cancer treatment.

Nevertheless, the Prince of Wales still performed a number of public duties and gave glimpses of the extremely difficult year the family had endured.

Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, during a visit in November for his Earthshot Awards, William, 42, said 2024 had been “the hardest year of my life.”

Fortunately, after months of being out of the spotlight as she continued treatment, the princess announced in another extremely emotional clip in September that her chemotherapy had ended and her focus was now on staying “cancer-free.”

She announced that she would be dipping her toes back into public life, while ensuring her recovery would still be her main focus.

And as she resumed some public duties, the princess showed royal fans the things she perhaps cherishes most.

One of Kate’s first dates was meeting the late Liz Hatton, an aspiring photographer with a rare form of cancer who wanted to photograph an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle as part of her ‘bucket list’.

The nation’s hearts were warmed by a photo of the Princess and Liz sharing a warm hug at the royal residence, knowing it was a hug that meant the world to them both.

Tragically, Liz passed away on November 27, days before her family had planned an early Christmas celebration with her.

Following Liz’s death, the Prince and Princess of Wales issued a statement praising her as a ‘brave and humble young woman’.

Kate’s other assignments included a visit to Southport in September, where tragedy had struck just months earlier when three young girls, Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were stabbed to death in a Taylor Swift dance party.

Kate appeared with Prince William and met with community leaders as the area tried to rebuild after the horrific incident. She also met privately with families of the affected children.

Perhaps Kate’s most notable return to the spotlight was her Together at Christmas carol service, an event she hosts every year and which she holds very close to her heart.

Speaking at the event, the Princess, addressing guests specially chosen to attend at Westminster Abbey, said: ‘Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, it’s a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it’s also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all.

‘It is when we stop and remove ourselves from the pressures of everyday life that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, which is exactly what the Christmas spirit is all about.

‘The Christmas story encourages us to reflect on the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, and how much we need each other despite our differences. Above all, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.”

The theme of this year’s ‘Together at Christmas’ concert is love and empathy, which is perhaps fitting given the difficult year the princess has had.

Kate continued, “The love we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope.

“Love is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives.”

Her message was told in the form of a voice-over played at the beginning of the Christmas carol ‘Together at Christmas’ in Westminster Abbey.