Kate Middleton shares unseen photo of Prince William and gives sweet message on his birthday

The Princess of Wales delighted Royal fans by posting a charming, previously unseen photograph of Prince William with their three children, celebrating his 42nd birthday - along with an affectionate message.

The playful image showcases William alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis jumping over sand dunes and comes paired with the caption: "Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx" revealing that the photo is indeed from Kate. Shared on the Royals' social media, this candid snapshot was captured last month in Norfolk by Kate herself and seems to have been taken on the same occasion as the lovely Father's Day image shared a week earlier.

In the energetic photo, a smiling William is seen grasping the hands of Charlotte and Louis while George is seen holding onto Louis' other hand, as they all bounce gleefully into the air, displaying joyful expressions. This cheerful sharing follows the Prince of Wales' attendance at the England vs. Denmark football match in Frankfurt, Germany, where he watched the teams draw 1-1 for the Euro 2024 tournament the night before.

Adding to the celebrations, King Charles voiced his best wishes to his son on his birthday via social media this morning. The Royal Family account heartwarmingly reflected on the past, posting an endearing photo of a young William perched on his fathers lap, both sharing smiles, reports the Mirror.

It included the message: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales! ".

Today marks Prince William's birthday, a poignant milestone following a challenging year that saw both his father, King Charles, and his wife, Kate, diagnosed with cancer. Royal expert Ingrid Seward has observed that this period has been transformative for William, suggesting that his late mother, Princess Diana, would be filled with pride.

Speaking to the Mirror, she commented: "It has been one of the most difficult couple of years of Prince William's life."

Ingrid elaborated on the prince's character and personal struggles, noting: "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."

She further reflected on William's family life, saying: "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."

According to Ingrid, the events of the past year have served to strengthen the bond between William and Charles as they mourn the Queen together, while also providing William with valuable lessons from his father in preparation for his future role as King.

Ingrid Seward, a Royal expert, revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales have had their fair share of disagreements. "They have clashed about many issues," she said.

"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."

However, just as things were looking up for the couple, they were hit with a series of health scares. King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, and Kate underwent a serious abdominal operation, later announcing that she too needed cancer treatment.

Throughout this challenging time, Prince William stepped up, taking care of their children while also fulfilling his Royal duties in support of the Queen during his father's absence.

Reflecting on the past year, Ingrid noted that these trials have made Prince William stronger. "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 on June 21, 1982, at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. As the first-born son of the then-Prince and Princess of Wales, he was second in line to the throne.

At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand, breaking from the tradition of leaving Royal babies at home under the care of nannies.

Diana, the mother of Prince William, separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992 and tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. At the time, William was only 15 years old and his younger brother, Prince Harry, was 12.

The two princes walked behind their mother's coffin during her funeral procession through London. William met Kate Middleton while studying at St Andrews University in Fife.

After dating for over eight years, they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011. They welcomed their first child, George, in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015, and Louis in 2018.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, King Charles announced in his inaugural address that he had bestowed upon William and Kate the titles of the new Prince and Princess of Wales. A long-standing rift exists between William and his brother, the Duke of Sussex, with no signs of reconciliation in sight.

The tension began prior to Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, now known as the Duchess of Sussex, and escalated following the accusations Harry made against his brother in his Netflix documentary and memoir, Spare. Earlier this month, when their mutual friend, the Duke of Westminster, got married at Chester Cathedral, William served as an usher.

However, it was mutually agreed upon between Harry and the groom that Harry would not attend the ceremony.

Since his last birthday, Prince William has launched Homewards, a five-year initiative aimed at eradicating homelessness in six UK locations. His other main focuses include promoting mental health awareness and the Earthshot Prize, a £50 million environmental competition designed to find solutions to help the planet.