William praises Kate's 'remarkable strength' in message to mark her 43rd birthday
The Prince of Wales has publicly praised the "remarkable strength" the Princess of Wales has shown over the last year in a message to mark her 43rd birthday.
In a rare move, William issued a heartfelt written message on social media after a turbulent past year which saw Kate diagnosed with cancer.
William wrote: “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”
It was accompanied by a new, unseen black and white picture of Kate taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer, showing the princess looking relaxed and smiling with her hands in her jeans pockets and wearing a gingham scarf.
The Royal Family also wished the Princess of Wales a happy 43rd birthday.
The monarchy’s official media accounts shared a message saying: “Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales!” followed by a birthday cake emoji.
It was accompanied by a photo of Kate smiling as she collected bouquets of flowers from wellwishers while attending church in Sandringham on Christmas Day.
The princess is celebrating her birthday at home in Windsor with her family, after a challenging past 12 months which saw her undergo abdominal surgery, be diagnosed with cancer and face chemotherapy treatment.
Kate finished her chemotherapy in the summer, releasing a video to say that her focus was "doing what I can to stay cancer-free".
The princess has made several public appearances in recent weeks as she makes her return to public life, including her annual star-studded Christmas carol event.
William described 2024 as a “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with cancer.
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This is the Talking Royals - our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson