Prince William Calls Kate Middleton the “Most Incredible Wife and Mother” on Her 43rd Birthday

After a challenging year, Prince William has shared a moving tribute to his wife, Kate Middleton, on her 43rd birthday describing her as “the most incredible wife and mother,” alongside a new portrait.

“To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable,” wrote in a post shared to Instagram and X on Thursday. “George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W.”

The new black and white portrait of the Princess of Wales was taken by photographer Matt Porteous last summer, according to the palace. In the image, Kate wears jeans, a white t-shirt, a blazer and a checkered scarf. At press time, it has 800,000 likes and thousands of comments from well-wishers.

King Charles and Queen Camilla also offered their birthday wishes with an Instagram Story of Kate collecting flowers during the royal family’s Christmas Day walk in Sandringham last month.

As for how Kate will commemorate the special day, a source close to the princess tells Vanity Fair that she will be spending her birthday with Prince William at Windsor. When the couple’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, return from school, the family will have a birthday celebration. A homemade cake is likely to be part of the festivities as Princess Kate loves to bake with her children.

“Catherine isn’t one for big celebrations and after the year she has had she is simply grateful to be with her family,” says a friend. “She will spend the day with William and then gather with the family later on today.”

Sources close to the Princess of Wales say she is looking forward to the year ahead following a turbulent 2024. Last year, Kate turned 42 shortly before Kensington Palace announced she had undergone major abdominal surgery. Several weeks later, the princess revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer in a video message and would undergo preventative chemotherapy, which she completed at the end of the summer.

While she has said she is not yet out of the woods, Princess Kate is currently cancer-free, fit and well and palace sources say she is looking forward to a gradual return to work over the coming months.

“It’s not like there is going to be a major reset button, more this will be a continuation of her gradual return to work,” a royal source says.

In June, Kate returned to official duties after six months out of the public eye when she attended Trooping the Colour in June and Wimbledon in July. She was also at the Cenotaph in November for Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Just before Christmas, Kate hosted her Together at Christmas Carol Service which palace sources say was “a real highlight” for the royal at the end of a difficult year.

“We will see the princess gradually return to work. Her Early Years work will continue to be a key focus as she returns back to more public-facing engagements over the coming months,” the royal source says. The princess is determined to carry on where she left off in terms of duties and engagements, however, her cancer diagnosis has made her re-assess her priorities, according to those close to her. “While her children have always been her number one priority, staying healthy and cancer-free is also her focus today,” a family friend says.

It will also be an important year for Prince George, who will start secondary school in September. William and Kate have been looking at several possibilities for George, including independent single-sex and co-ed schools. The princess has been seen quietly visiting several north London schools, which suggests that George may not attend Eton like his father. Sources close to the couple say there are “lots of talks” going on at present, but the pair have not yet made their decision about where George will go to school and are “keeping all their options open.”