Catherine, Princess of Wales, turns 43 on Jan. 9 and received a sweet message from her husband, Prince William.
“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,” he captioned a black and white picture of her on X wearing jeans, a light colored shirt and scarf over a jacket while she smiles as she gazes out to her right.
The unseen picture of the Princess of Wales was taken by Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer, according to Kensington Palace.
It has been a challenging year for the princess. In March 2024, she announced in a video that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she said. “But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that’s appropriate for them and to reassure them that I’m going to be okay.
“As I’ve said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”
Kate made her first public appearance since her announcement in June at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, which honors King Charles III’s birthday. She strolled in a carriage with her three children to watch the king’s birthday parade with the rest of the royal family. She also joined the king, his wife, Queen Camilla, Prince William and their kids on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
In June, the princess said in a statement she was making “good progress” with her treatment, which she anticipated would continue for “a few more months.”
In September, she provided an update.
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in a video shared on Instagram.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”
In December, she also acknowledged how challenging 2024 was for her.
“This year has been full of surprises,” Kate said in a video shared by British broadcast station Channel 5 News on X.