Royal news - live: Kate shares rare touching message to William with new photo to mark birthday
The sweet message was shared alongside a new image of the Prince
Prince William is today celebrating his 42nd birthday and the Princess of Wales has shared a touching message to mark the occasion.
Taking to the official Kensington Royal social media accounts, she shared a new picture of the heir to the throne appearing to jump on a sandy beach with his three young children.
Kate Middleton wrote: “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx”
It is not known if the Princess personally took the sweet picture.
The touching message comes after Kate made her first public appearance of the year on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour last weekend.
Commentators could not help but remark on how sparse the family looked compared to previous years.
Following the appearance, royal expert Richard Eden claimed that William plans to slim down the Monarchy even more when he takes the throne.
Writing for the MailOnline, he cited a source who said: “When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won’t be inviting anyone else to become working royals.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s horse beaten at Ascot
Queen Camilla was left looking more than a little disappointed when the royal horse was beaten on day three of Royal Ascot.
She and King Charles have several horses running in this year’s event, some of which they took on from the late Queen Elizabeth.
Despite good odds on their runner Gilded Water in the King George V Stakes, the horse came in 12th place.
Queen Camilla has attended every day of the prestigious event so far, while King Charles has attended the first and third days only.
![The Queen could not hide her disappointment at day three of Royal Ascot.](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/20/15/SEI209601852.jpg)
![She watched the race through a pair of binoculars.](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/20/15/SEI209605304.jpg)
Royal family celebrates Prince William’s birthday
The royal family celebrated Prince William’s 42nd birthday by sharing a throwback picture on their social media accounts.
It features a delighted-looking Prince William as a baby on the knee of King Charles, who is also smiling.
The picture was captioned: “Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!”
Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales! 🎉
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 21, 2024
📷 @RCT pic.twitter.com/IEWU8ZeycE
New Prince William birthday picture praised by fans
A new picture shared to mark Prince William’s 42nd birthday has been praised by royal fans.
It features the heir to the throne appearing to jump on a sandy beach with his three young children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
While it is not known who took the picture, it was shared on the official Kensington Palace Twitter (X) account by the Princess of Wales.
Reacting to the picture, one fan gushed: “Happy birthday Prince William and you can see there is so much love and happiness in his family.
“We can see that The Prince of Wales is a fun dad.”
A second added: “Happy birthday, William! I absolutely love how that photo turned out! Fantastic timing and lighting!”
Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx pic.twitter.com/NROqRbt4rs
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 21, 2024
Princess of Wales wishes Prince William Happy Birthday
The Princess of Wales has wished her husband Prince William a happy birthday on social media.
Taking to the official Kensington Royal Twitter (X) account, Kate shared a picture of Prince William appearing to jump at the beach with his three children.
She wrote: “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx”
Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx pic.twitter.com/NROqRbt4rs
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 21, 2024
Prince William shakes King of Denmark’s hand after Euros draw
Prince William was photographed shaking the hand of King Frederik X of Denmark after last night’s Euros draw.
The scenes come after the official Kensington Palace Twitter (X) account shared a picture of the pair after kick-off that was captioned: “May the best team win.”
![Prince William is the president of the FA.](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/20/16/SEI209617775.jpg)
May the best team win 🇩🇰🏴⚽#ENGDEN #EUROS2024 pic.twitter.com/T38P53rQyu
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 20, 2024
Prince William’s plans for the future of the Monarchy
As Prince William celebrates his 42nd birthday today, an insider has claimed that he plans to slim down the Monarchy even more.
This comes following what many described as a “sparse” Buckingham Palace balcony appearance at last weekend’s Trooping the Colour.
Writing for the MailOnline, royal expert Richard Eden cited a source who said: “When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won’t be inviting anyone else to become working royals.
“It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.
“That is what William wants. He sees the small European monarchies as the model for the future.”
![The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, and King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (Gareth Fuller/PA)](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/15/14/1f567f37d46720f8a0f86d0fda20c81fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4NTQ0NjA3-2.76529050.jpg)
Royal expert says Kate is finding comfort from her children’s routine
As the Princess of Wales continues her cancer treatment, a royal historian has claimed that her biggest source of strength is her daily routine with her children.
The revelation comes in the wake of Kate’s seemingly triumphant return to public life at last weekend’s Trooping the Colour, where she looked delighted to see the public again.
Royal historian Amanda Foreman said: “The children won’t remember mummy shaking hands or really care.
“But they will recall Mummy making cakes [or when] she went off to the local shop and bought something or took them somewhere.”
PEOPLE magazine also reports that another anonymous source stressed the gruelling nature of her treatment.
“The treatment is punishing, and it is different for different people. And the side effects can be unforgiving,” they said.
![The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade (PA)](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/15/16/c6e93477873b76da02a7e23469e1ad09Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4NTQ5Nzkx-2.76527222.jpg)
King Charles ‘considering’ American visit to see his grandchildren
King Charles is reportedly “considering” a visit across the pond to see his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Despite Lilibet now being three years old, she has reportedly only met her grandfather once.
However, as the Monarch, 75, is currently battling an undisclosed form of cancer and does not appear to have the best relationship with his youngest son, who he has not seen since February, it could be some time before this visit takes place.
Royal commentator Tom Quinn told the Mirror: “Charles has had discussions about an official visit to the United States at some time in the future, and there is no doubt if it goes ahead he would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren, but there are mountains of planning to be overcome before that becomes even a remote possibility.”
![King Charles last saw Prince Harry when he announced his cancer diagnosis in February.](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/19/08/2158162951.jpg)
William celebrates 42nd birthday after watching England lose to Denmark at the Euro 2024
The Prince of Wales will be celebrating his birthday today as he turns 42.
William was in Frankfurt, Germany, hoping to watch England beat Denmark at the Euro 2024 as an early birthday present. Instead, the English Football Association president had to settle for watching the Three Lions drawing 1-1 in their second match of the tournament.
Since his birthday last year, William has launched a five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK, named Homewards.
The royal has had a difficult year, with both his wife, the Princess of Wales, and father, the King, diagnosed with cancer.
Kate made her first public appearance of 2023 at the King’s official birthday parade, along with William and their three children.
![Prince William speaks with HM King Frederik X, King of Denmark, prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Denmark and England](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/20/17/SEI209619889.jpg)
![Britain’s Prince William with Kate, Princess of Wales, and their children, Prince George, left, Prince Louis and Prince Charlotte at the Trooping the Colour ceremony](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/15/16/ccc5143265ae4adea59ab463e2ee0e96.jpg)
Queen Camilla no longer the ‘wicked stepmother'
A royal expert has weighed in on Prince William’s increasingly close bond with Queen Camilla.
This was clear for all to see yesterday as the pair arrived at Royal Ascot in a carriage together without their respective partners, who are both battling cancer.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine: “Recent events have obviously brought William and Camilla much closer. They have been left, almost literally, nursing the Crown while the King and the Princess recover.
“Their teams will be working more closely to coordinate diaries and cover the engagements that have been planned, and Camilla and William are bound to have been in much closer regular contact.”
The pair’s growing relationship is the complete opposite of what Prince Harry feared in his 2023 memoir Spare.
He wrote: “I remember wondering... if she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the wicked stepmothers in the stories.”
![The pair attended Royal Ascot without their respective spouses yesterday.](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/19/16/bd7a9a099ce74cdca60f514e4d4e19bc.jpg)
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