Kate Middleton shares new family photo as she pays rare touching tribute to William

Catherine, Princess of Wales has shared an unseen family photograph to mark Prince William's 42nd birthday. The mum-of-three shared the heartwarming snap, along with a rare personal message, on Friday, June 21.

The picture captured William with the couple's children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they jumped over sand dunes. William beams at the camera as he can be seen holding the hands of Charlotte and Louis, while George is holding Louis' hand.

The family are leaping into the air, pulling happy faces. The photo, shared on social media, was taken last month by Kate Middleton while the family were in Norfolk.

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It was posted with a touching message. It read: "Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx" The way the message was signed off reveals it was a personal message from Kate, Mirror reports.

The family photograph was released the morning after Prince William - who is president of the FA - was pictured alongside Denmark’s King Frederick as England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Frankfurt, Germany, in their second match of Euro 2024. King Charles also took to social media to wish his son a happy birthday.

On the Royal Family account, the monarch posted a throwback picture of a young William sitting on his dad's lap with Charles beaming at his son. It was followed with the message: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!"

William's birthday comes after he has faced a difficult 12 months following the cancer news of both his father King Charles and his wife Kate. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward said the past year has been the making of William and that the late Princess Diana would be proud.

Ingrid said: "It has been one of the most difficult couple of years of Prince William’s life." Ingrid continued: "William is sensitive, he likes structure and has perseverance.

"He does not give up easily. His relationship with brother Harry upset him more than he would care to admit. But he found it easier to cut ties rather than allow himself to be continually annoyed.

"His life with Kate gives him the security, love and friendship he needs. He doesn't dwell upon the loss of his mother but knows the feeling of hurt will never go away completely."

Ingrid said William and Charles have become closer as they both grieve the loss of the late Queen. Prince William has also learnt more from his father as he prepares to be the next King.

Ingrid said: "They have clashed about many issues. They still disagree but it is more constructive than it ever was. But just as things were going so well for the Prince and Princess of Wales, the hammer blow fell.

"His father got cancer and Kate had a serious abdominal operation. Later to announce she too had to have cancer treatment. William played both mother and father to the children while he carried on with his royal duties supporting the Queen in his father's absence.

"The traumas of the past year have made him a stronger person. He has become the kind of man Diana always hoped he would be. Kind considerate and able to take on whatever life throws at him."

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982. He weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz and was the first-born son of the then-Prince and the Princess of Wales.

At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand - a break from tradition as royal babies were usually left at home in the care of nannies. His mother Diana - who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992 - died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

William, who was just 15, walked behind his mother's coffin during a funeral procession through London alongside brother Prince Harry, then 12. Prince William met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University, in Fife, and dated for more than eight years before marrying at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

They welcomed their first child George in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018. After the death of the late Queen in 2022, the King announced in his first historic address that he had made William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales.