The Prince of Wales shared a sweet birthday tribute to the Princess of Wales today – 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 and added that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were ‘so proud of her’.

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

The sweet message was shared with an unseen picture of the Princess of Wales taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer.

The black and white image shows the Princess relaxed at home, in jeans, a blazer and checked scarf.

She posed with her hands in her pocket – showing off her dazzling engagement ring – while wearing her hair in a gentle wave. 

A personal message – and unseen photo – is an unusual thing for the Royal Family to do for a non-major birthday.

It is perhaps the most emotive message William has ever shared about his wife.

‘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,’ the message, shared to Instagram and X, formerly Twitter,  reads.

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

Matt Porteous has taken pictures of William, Kate and their children dozens of times – as well as accompanying them on royal tours. 

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

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

They added a sweet caption reading ‘Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales’, atop the photo of her beaming and holding a bunch of flowers.

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

Shortly after marking her 42nd birthday last January, Kensington Palace announced the Princess of Wales had been taken to hospital for abdominal surgery and was to pause public-facing duties while she recovered.

However, her time out of the spotlight fuelled wild speculation about her health and in March 2024 the Princess released an extraordinarily candid clip in which she announced to the world that doctors determined ‘cancer had been present’ in her body after carrying out tests.

The news sent the nation, and indeed the world, into a state of shock as Kate revealed she would be undergoing chemotherapy treatment and was taking time out of public duties indefinitely as she prioritised her recovery.

Meanwhile, Prince William also reduced his public engagements as he put family life and his wife’s recovery front and centre – while his father King Charles also received cancer treatment.

‘Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales,’ a sweet message on the Royal Family account reads

Prince William (pictured with his wife and children) reduced his public engagements as he put family life and Kate’s recovery front and centre 

Nonetheless, the Prince of Wales still honoured some public duties and revealed glimpses of the extremely difficult year the family had endured.

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

Thankfully, after months out of the spotlight as she continued treatment, the Princess announced in September – in another extremely emotive clip – that her chemotherapy had come to an end and her focus was now on remaining ‘cancer-free’. 

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

And as she resumed some public facing duties, the Princess showed royal fans the causes that she perhaps cherishes the most.

One of Kate’s first engagements was a meeting with 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 in the royal residence – knowing it was an embrace that meant everything to both.

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

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his wife Kate as she turns 43 today following an annus horribilis last year as she battled cancer

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

Other engagements carried out by Kate 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, had been stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance party.

Appearing alongside Prince William, Kate met with community leaders as the area tried to rebuild following the horrific incident. Privately, she also met with families of the children who had been affected.

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

Speaking at the event as she addressed guests who had been hand picked to attend at Westminster Abbey, the Princess said: ‘Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is 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 take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about. 

‘The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences. Above all else, 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 suitable considering the difficult year the Princess has had.

Kate continued: ‘The love that 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.

‘It is love which 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 start of the ‘Together at Christmas’ carol concert at Westminster Abbey. 

Inside the hardest year of Kate’s life: From trolls’ conspiracy theories amid cancer diagnosis to THAT Mother’s Day photograph – as the Princess of Wales turns 43 today we look back at all the twists and turns of her brutal year 

By Cameron Roy

Since the then Kate Middleton joined the Royal Family, her birthday is usually a peaceful affair as it happens in the ‘downtime’ month of January, which is kept mostly free for diary planning following a busy period of high-profile events over Christmas.

But today, as the Princess of Wales celebrates her 43rd birthday, she will be looking back on a year that her husband William described as the ‘hardest year in my life’.

That is because a week after her birthday on January 17, 2024, a statement from Kensington Palace announced she had undergone abdominal surgery.

It would be just the beginning of a tumultuous year of health concerns for the princess which became more serious when she announced in March she had been diagnosed with cancer –  putting an unprecedented strain on the entire Royal Family.

Here MailOnline looks back at all the twists and turns in Kate’s brutal year, and how with the support of her family she has managed to get through it all. 

The princess’s tough year began in January when she was secretly admitted to The London Clinic for abdominal surgery.

Kensington Palace said at the time she had ‘planned abdominal surgery’ and estimated that she would spend the next tento 14 days in hospital.

Specifics about the nature of the operation were, and remain, private, although aides let it be known her condition was ‘non-cancerous’.

The Princess of Wales announced in an emotional video message that she was receiving cancer treatment in March

The Princess of Wales showed no sign of the year’s strain when she accepted bouquets of flowers from well-wishers at Sandringham on Christmas Day

Entirely understandably, the Princess of Wales wished to keep her recovery as private as possible, according to royal author Robert Hardman in his new book Charles III. 

But in the absence of an explanation or updates, a series of conspiracy theories began to take flight around the world.

Spanish TV reported that the princess was in a coma, while a rumour emerged from South America stating that she was either in hiding following a disastrous haircut or failed cosmetic surgery.

Other trolls and conspiracy theorists have used her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly libellous claims. 

A community on the widely popular internet forum Reddit set up a ‘KateMiddletonMissing’ section where they discussed their various suspicions.

And a #WhereIsKateMiddleton hashtag also began to trend every day allowing conspiracy theorists to share their thoughts with other enthusiasts. 

The swirling theories began to get more bewilderingly and fanciful, which would have been extremely distressing for the pPrincess and her children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

However the family were given a brief respite from the internet focus when King Charles announced on February 5 that he had an undisclosed form of cancer.

Kate’s last public appearance until June 2024 was on December 25, 2023, alongside Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William and Prince Louis at Sandringham Church

A serious-looking Prince William leaves the The London Clinic on January 18 after visiting Kate

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic where Kate stayed after surgery

But it would return with a vengeance on March 4 after Kate was photographed by paparazzi for the first time since her operation while she was being driven near Windsor Castle by her mother, Carole Middleton.

The photos were taken shortly before 9am, suggesting Kate was doing her best to soldier on and continuing to take her children on the school run. 

The pictures were published by US gossip website TMZ but not in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private. 

However in spite of the increasingly deranged speculation about her whereabouts, the Waleses decided to stick to their original strategy with William continuing to go about his official engagements while Kate recovered privately.

Their strategy was in contrast to the King’s who was being more open than any monarch in history with his health issues.  

‘No constitutional responsibility sits on the Princess of Wales and never will,’ a senior aide to the King told Hardman. 

‘She is not in the line of succession. She plays an absolutely vital supporting role to the Prince of Wales and in bringing up their children who are in the line of succession. 

‘But she herself is not. Her situation is different and it can be treated differently.’

On March 10, Kensington Palace released a photograph of Kate and her children. But, instead of calming the speculation down, it sent the online sleuths into overdrive due to inconsistencies with the photograph due to minor editing

Robert Hardman’s book, Charles III, details the inside story of Kate’s difficult year

After almost two weeks of hysteria and wild speculation, the ‘Where is Kate?’ brigade had an answer of sorts on March 10 as Kensington Palace released a photograph of Kate and her children.

But instead of calming the speculation down, it sent the online sleuths into overdrive due to inconsistencies with the photograph due to minor editing.

Some had spotted small inconsistencies such as a missing section of a child’s sleeve or the blurring of a knee – revealing that the photo had undergone minor editing prior to release. 

The Waleses and their staff were ‘astonished’ by what happened next, according to Hardman. 

The world’s four main international photographic agencies issued a ‘kill notice’, industry jargon for retracting a photograph.

‘At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image,’ Associated Press announced, declaring that the photograph had thus fallen short of its standards. Getty, AFP and Reuters said similar.

It was deemed an oddly exaggerated, almost performative, response, which some commentators think came from the industry’s concerns about the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) to the integrity of mainstream photography.

If there was frustration from William and Kate that the media should be making quite such a meal of a well-intentioned, homespun gesture, there was no time to dwell on it.

MailOnline found at least 16 potential issues with the photo after it was published

Charlotte’s floating left wrist is believed to be the reason that picture was pulled

The world’s four main international photographic agencies issued a ‘kill notice’, industry jargon for retracting a photograph 

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account once the editing was revealed

A Kensington Palace staffer told Hardman they are the ‘final decision-makers’ who have agency in everything.

So instead of a more standard royal statement, the princess issued a first-person apology via Twitter/X, fessing up that it had been her who had made the tweaks.

‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,’ she wrote. ‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.’

It seemed to calm down the social media firestorm momentarily, but stories about the princess continued to pile up after a grainy video of her shopping at the Windsor farm shop surfaced online.

Meanwhile the princess would have been further distressed to hear the news that there was a report of a possible data breach involving the princess’s hospital records. 

And then, all the hysteria and speculation came to a screeching halt at 6pm on March 22 when the princess appeared in a pre-recorded video message to say she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

She calmly outlined the story of her ordeal as she sat on a wooden bench surrounded by daffodils wearing a simple striped jersey and jeans. 

‘It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family,’ she said, explaining that the ‘major abdominal surgery’ had been successful. 

‘However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.’

In cyberspace the conspiracy theorists beat a headlong retreat.  

Hollywood actress Blake Lively was one of the first to express regret, while Left-wing journalist Owen Jones said he felt ‘ashamed’ for the speculation.

Kensington Palace staff refused to give details of the cancer, or of the treatment. It was officially confirmed that the chemotherapy had started in late February.

It became commonly agreed that the princess’s heartbreaking video had been an emotional moment for the whole country.

Delivered in her own words, it said on her good days, it was ‘a joy’ to engage in school life and even a little work. 

She said that she and Prince William explained the situation to their children after the ‘huge shock’ of her diagnosis. 

The family released Kate’s video announcement to the Press a few hours after the school closed for Easter so that her children would not immediately face questions in the playground after the news was made public.

‘George is ten now and can’t be shielded from any of this,’ a palace source told The Sunday Times.

After the release of the video, Kate was able to spend three weeks with the children and William at the family’s sanctuary Anmer Hall (pictured), a Georgian country house which is part of the Sandringham Estate

‘Once it’s at the school gate and in the school playground, he won’t be able to avoid it.’

After the release of the video, Kate was able to spend three weeks with the children and William at the family’s sanctuary Anmer Hall, a Georgian country house which is part of the Sandringham Estate.

A source close to William told The Times how losing his mother when he was only 15 has made him go into ‘protection mode’ as his children now face their own mother’s health being brought up in public.

The family decided to miss the traditional royal Easter Sunday service and instead focused their energy on spending time together.

Kate said she had told them she was doing ‘well and getting stronger every day’ and that she was ‘focusing on the things that will help me heal’.

She also revealed that she was comforted by having her husband by her side and they were doing ‘everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.

It wasn’t until the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday, June 15, that the Princess of Wales eventually returned to royal duties for the first time in six months. The last time she had been seen in public was Christmas Day.

Kate with her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the flypast following the Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 15, 2024

The Princess of Wales beams as she leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour

Kate watches the spectacle of Trooping the Colour from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with her children 

The Royal Family smiled and waved to crowds before standing proudly as the national anthem was played on June 15, 2024

After the parade, the family made the traditional appearance on the Palace balcony, with all eyes on the Princess of Wales. 

Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowds, in what was a triumphant comeback to public life. 

But alongside royal duties, Kate’s condition caused her to miss out on important family trips.

When William took the children to see the pop star Taylor Swift on June 22, Kate stayed at home.

However the next month Kate made a second public appearance at Wimbledon alongside Princess Charlotte, where they received a standing ovation as she presented the men’s fFinal trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

She would next be seen in a joint video with the Prince of Wales to congratulate Team GB on their performance at the Paris Olympics.

Over the summer, the couple and their young family have enjoyed a ‘fabulous’ summer at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

They spent time outdoors – cycling, sailing, and hanging out with family and friends – that put colour back in all their cheeks.

When William took the kids to see Taylor Swift on June 22, Kate stayed at home 

Kate made a second public appearance at Wimbledon alongside Princess Charlotte in July, as she presented the Men’s Final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz

The Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, were snapped in the Royal Box at Wimbledon alongside Pippa Middleton in July

One insider told the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English: ‘They made a clear and conscious decision to take time out as a family this summer. 

‘Seeing them both looking so happy and relaxed with each other and so comfortable in each other’s company tells you a lot about where they are.

‘What doesn’t break you, makes you stronger’ is as true for the royals as it is for the rest of us.

The experience also strengthened them as a unit, with one source telling English: ‘They’ve always been a team, and what they have been through this year has only cemented that.’

As always she hid her suffering well, but those who know her are keen to emphasise just what a tough time it has been.

‘I don’t think people realise how much she has gone through behind the scenes and for how long, far longer than anyone actually appreciates,’ one said to English.

‘She’s an incredibly strong woman, but she really has been through the wars.

‘Her treatment and recovery is still a priority and will be ongoing for some time to come.’

In August she joined William, and the King and Queen at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle, in Scotland during a summer break in the Highlands.

In August, Kate joined William, the King and Queen at Crathie Church (pictured), near Balmoral Castle in Scotland during a summer break 

Then on September 9, the Princess of Wales revealed she had finished her course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’ and planned to undertake a ‘light programme’ of public engagements over the coming months.

She delivered a personal message to the nation in a stunning three-minute long video showing her and William in Norfolk with their children which was shot in August. 

Kate said the experience had reminded her and William to ‘reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.’ 

It showed the family playing happily on the beach and in the woods, William and Kate lying entwined on a blanket, hugging their children – and kissing. 

Kate then returned to work at Windsor Castle, focusing on her early years work, and then in late September met aides to focus on her annual Christmas carol service.

In October she made a surprise visit to Merseyside with William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims. 

And then in November she attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall alongside the King and her husband.

In an uplifting video message she shared, the Princess of Wales revealed she has finished her course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’

The Princess of Wales took this heartwarming snap of her husband jumping off sand dunes with Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, in Norfolk

The princess’s personal message to the nation is accompanied by a stunning three-minute long video showing her and William in Norfolk with their three children 

Kate Middleton’s father Michael featured in the emotional three-minute video 

Kate’s mother Carole featured in the emotional video announcing the end of her cancer 

Kate spoke of her ‘relief’ at her chemotherapy treatment finally coming to an end 

Kate pictured behind the wheel as she reads her statement as a voiceover 

The next day, on Remembrance Sunday she led the nation alongside the King and the Prince of Wales in remembering Britain’s war dead.

Wearing a black, military-style jacket with epaulettes, she could be seen wearing her traditional three poppies as she joined the nation in two minutes of silence. The touching tribute honours her great-grandmother’s three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

Kate watched the Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

The princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect. 

In a touching moment following the ceremony, the Duchess of Edinburgh could be seen laying a tender hand on her shoulder as they left the balcony together.

The Princess of Wales appeared to fight back tears in an emotional moment as she attended the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph

Kate watched the Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh could be seen laying a tender hand on Kate’s back as she left the balcony following the ceremony

The next big set piece event Kate took part in was her Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, broadcast on Christmas Eve.

The Together at Christmas concert, which took place at the Abbey earlier in December was aired at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. 

It was the fourth time the royal has held the annual festive concert – but this year’s was particularly poignant as Kate continued her recovery from cancer.

Kate’s impassioned voiceover thanked ‘inspiring’ people ’embracing those in need’, saying: ‘This carol service is a heartfelt celebration of everyone of you.

‘It’s a reminder that at Christmas and throughout the year we must all shine for each other because in times of joy and sadness, we are all each other’s light’.

Kate has been described as being ‘hands-on’ over every aspect of the service, including holding regular planning meetings at Windsor ahead of filming.

On the day the service was filmed, the princess arrived on her own at 4pm to view the abbey and oversee last-minute arrangements.

Kate and Prince Louis taking part in the Princess of Wales’s Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey

Members of the public gathered at Sandringham on Christmas Day to meet Kate

The Royal Family, led by King Charles and Queen Camilla, on their way to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas Day 

The Prince and Princess of Wales posed for photographs with their children

The event went off without a hitch and was widely acclaimed by royal watchers and fans.

Kate’s final public appearance of the year was when she greeted the crowds outside St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Kate was a sight to behold as she walked alongside William, their children, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Norfolk estate. 

There she met fans who had been queuing since the night before, with several people eager to wish Kate and the Royal Family a merry Christmas after what has been a particularly difficult 12 months. 

All eyes were on Kate as she looked as positive and radiant as ever, bearing no indication of the challenging year behind her.