Prince William is celebrating his 44th birthday today, which also coincides with Father's Day, and to mark the occasion, a never-before-seen photo has been shared on social media by Kate Middleton. The image shows William with Princess Charlotte in the garden at Kensington Palace after returning from Trooping the Colour, accompanied by a personal message: "Happy birthday and Father’s Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much. C, G, C & L."
The Prince of Wales is expected to spend the day privately at home with Kate and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Royal expert Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, told the Mirror that William will likely be "lapping up" the attention. "I don’t think Catherine will have needed any excuse to make a fuss of her husband. The two of them have seemed closer than ever, and more open about their feelings, since her cancer diagnosis," she said.
Double Celebration and Recent Public Appearances
William's birthday follows a series of public outings over the past week. Last Saturday, he joined his family for the annual Trooping the Colour, and on Monday, he participated in the Garter Day procession. He and Kate attended Royal Ascot on Wednesday, and he carried out engagements in Devon on Thursday. Bond suggested that gifts for William might include wacky presents from the children, possibly related to football or video games, and a romantic gift from Catherine, along with one of her famous homemade cakes—perhaps his favourite chocolate biscuit cake, similar to the giant one at their wedding.
Reflections on Family and the Past
Bond also noted that William often thinks of his mother, Diana, especially on his birthday. "William has often said that his mother is in his thoughts almost every day, and on his birthday, that was probably truer than ever. I doubt, though, that his thoughts drifted across the pond to California. Harry simply isn’t on William’s radar any more," she said, referring to the ongoing rift with his brother, Prince Harry.
Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, at 9:03 pm on June 21, 1982, weighing 7lb 1 1/2oz. He was the firstborn son of the then-Prince and Princess of Wales. At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand, breaking tradition as royal babies were usually left at home.
His mother Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when William was 15. He and his brother Prince Harry, then 12, walked behind her coffin during the funeral procession. William met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University, and they married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 after dating for over eight years. Their children—George (2013), Charlotte (2015), and Louis (2018)—followed. After the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, King Charles III named William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales. The rift between William and Harry remains unresolved.
