Catherine’s TOUCHING Nine-Word Birthday Message to William As She Wrapped In Full Love Of Him
To mark Prince William’s 42nd birthday today, the Princess of Wales shared a delightful family snap of her husband and their three children in a new message. Her choice hints at a massive royal change. While the Prince and Princess of Wales have previously shown glimpses of their casual family life outside of the public eye, the new image showing William and their kids is one of the best family photos they’ve released for its high-spirited portrayal of the usually reserved royals. As usual, the one in charge of immortalizing the moment was the Princess of Wales.
The photograph shows William and his children jumping happily on the beach in Norfolk County. The carefree image was a complete departure from the formal side of the royal family that’s usually on display for the world, including just last week when they gathered at Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of King Charles’s birthday. Prince William’s red military uniform from Trooping the Colour was replaced with pink shorts, a casual hoodie, and bare feet, highlighting a rarely seen side of the heir to the throne. As for the children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte matched little brother Prince Louis’s fun-loving side, rather than correcting him on royal protocol.
Even the family of five’s recent portraits have reflected the more buttoned-up side of the monarchy. For their 2023 Christmas card photo, the couple opted for a posed studio-style image, sporting matching white-collared shirts. The children’s love and trust are framed in the shot—a leap of faith alongside their father. The Princess doubles down on that sentiment through her unequivocal messaging accompanying the photograph. An affectionate message reads, “Happy birthday, Papa! We all love you so much. Cx.” The “C” represents Catherine, who took the photo and wrote the message, while “X” symbolizes a kiss. The inclusive “we all” phrasing, accompanied by her hallmark sign-off “Cx,” implicates the Princess of Wales in this close-knit unit.
Here is a family who have faced down adversity and come through it stronger and more united. Some may shrug and ask, what’s the big deal? But let’s not forget that in the wake of the Sussexes’ departure, accusations of disunity and dysfunction have rocked the Windsor family. Perhaps that fallout was the inevitable legacy of Charles and Diana’s divorce and William and Harry’s premature tragic loss of their mother. In contrast, these pictures tell us that Catherine and William are doing things very differently.
The decision to release such a casual photo shows both how William and Catherine are all about family, especially during this difficult time. While that focus on family is more important to the Prince and Princess of Wales than ever, it’s nothing new. They’ve always striven to give their children a normal life whenever possible despite their royal status, including future king Prince George. As for Catherine, she might be the Princess of Wales, but she is still a mother and a wife, going through the same set of emotions and worries and fears as anyone else in that set of circumstances would be.
In the latest personal message from the Princess of Wales, Catherine has been reprioritizing her life over the last three months and said she is focusing on her own needs while drawing strength from her family. While the Princess of Wales said she’s starting to do a little work from home and expressed a hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, no date has been set for her return to her royal duties and public life. Any outings in the near future will be based on when she feels able and under the guidance from her medical team. Behind the scenes, Catherine has started to work from home and hold meetings with her official teams in Windsor, where the family primarily lives when she’s able. A source close to the royal household adds, “She’s been doing what’s right for her and recovering privately at home. She is dealing with it the best she can.”
