King Charles and Queen Camilla Celebrate Kate Middleton’s Birthday
King Charles and Queen Camilla have sent birthday wishes to Kate Middleton. The Princess of Wales celebrated her 43rd birthday on Thursday, January 9. Both the King and the Queen were among the first to extend their greetings by posting a picture of Kate. The photo shows her wearing green during the royal family's Christmas Day outing to St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham.
The British royal family has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Christmas at their private residence in Norfolk. Many fans appreciated the continuation of this custom. This comes after a tough year for both King Charles and Kate, who were diagnosed with cancer.
The official royal family Instagram account wished, "Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales," alongside the celebratory image.
Buckingham Palace informed the public about King's health status in February 2024. In March, Princess Kate announced she was receiving treatment for cancer. The palace has not disclosed the specific types of cancers affecting either. However, on September 9, Kate announced that she completed her chemotherapy. Additionally, on December 20, sources revealed that King's treatment would extend into the new year.
Sources indicated that "His treatment has been moving in a positive direction." The King's treatment will continue next year as he plans to travel both internationally and within the U.K., maintaining a busy schedule like in late 2024.
During the traditional Christmas march, Princess Kate appeared upbeat as she walked with her family. She was seen with Prince William and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. Notably, this was her first public outing after a year largely away from the spotlight due to her health issues. Engaging warmly with well-wishers, she seemed comfortable and joyful.
At one instance, while talking to attendees, Kate joked, "I seem to have lost my family!" as she noticed Prince William and their kids strolling ahead.
On Christmas Day, the Princess engaged in meaningful conversations. She met Karen Maclean, a 73-year-old cancer survivor, along with two sisters who visited in honor of their late grandmother. The grandmother had passed away from cancer in 2024 and was a dedicated fan of the royals. Additionally, teacher Louis Beauchamp traveled from Paris to meet Kate.
Louis met the princess previously during a visit to a pub with Prince William in May 2023. He gifted her a special scarf from Morocco, thanking her for the positive influence she has had on his life. Upon receiving the gift, she expressed her gratitude, saying, "She thanked me very much and said it was wonderful and so kind of me to have come again."
Louis shared, "You could tell she was truly touched."
Following the festive season, Kate has not set timelines for her schedule. In a September video message, she mentioned focusing on staying cancer-free. She also expressed hope for undertaking more public engagements "in the coming months when I can."
Princess Kate did participate in royal duties thereafter. This included November's Remembrance events and hosting her fourth annual Together at Christmas carol service on December 6. She made yet another appearance on Christmas at Sandringham.
As royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith noted, "You can't say she is back ... but she is coming back." She highlighted how Kate chooses to resume her royal responsibilities at her own pace, reflecting care and consideration.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Armie Hammer returned to the big screen after controversy.
