The Prince of Wales penned heartfelt birthday wishes to his wife, the Princess of Wales, as she turned 43 on Thursday.
In the personal message shared on social media, Prince William wrote: "To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."
The black and white snap taken by photographer Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer shows Kate posing with her hands in her jean pockets, and wearing a white blouse, a blazer and a checked scarf.
It comes after the King and Queen sent birthday wishes to Kate, sharing a photograph of the Princess from the Christmas Day walkabout.
The Princess, who is making a gradual return to her public duties, would have been undergoing chemotherapy at the time.
© Matt PorteousThe royal family was rocked by Kate and the King's cancer diagnoses in 2024, with William describing the year as "brutal".
Kate announced she had completed chemotherapy in a moving family video in September, which showed her enjoying the great outdoors with her husband and their three children.
© Instagram / @royalfamilyThe footage also showed rare displays of public affection from William and Kate, who will mark their 14th wedding anniversary this April.
Opening up in Cape Town, South Africa in November, William said of the family's experience: "Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done."
The couple look set to carry out an overseas visit together, with the Prince hinting as much.
“I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up,” he said in South Africa.
Kate has not taken part in an official foreign visit for more than 14 months.
© GettyThe Prince and Princess are also launching a new mental health pilot this year to boost support for those living on the Sandringham Estate and surrounding area.
The couple are co-funding a programme with Norfolk and Waveney Mind, which will provide counselling and targeted groups for often-isolated rural and farming communities.
Kate made a handful of public appearances in 2024 – including Trooping the Colour, Wimbledon and Remembrance Sunday.
© GettyThe Princess rounded off December by joining her family at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day, having hosted her festive carol concert at Westminster Abbey earlier in the month.
Kate marked her birthday privately with her family, with the Waleses having returned to their Windsor home this week after spending Christmas in Norfolk.
Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, are now back at Lambrook School after the holidays.
Timeline of Princess Kate's health updates
© Getty25 December 2023 – Kate is last seen publicly on Christmas Day
9 January 2024 – Kate celebrates her 42nd birthday, with the King and Queen sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from the coronation to mark the day.
11 January 2024 – William returns to royal duties, meeting rugby heroes Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
17 January 2024 – Kensington Palace announces in a statement that Kate has undergone abdominal surgery at the London Clinic and that William has temporarily stepped back from royal duties to care for Kate and their children.
18 January 2024 – William visits Kate at the London Clinic.
26 January 2024 – King Charles visits Kate in hospital before undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
29 January 2024 – Kate is discharged from hospital and returns home to Windsor to continue her recovery. King Charles also leaves the London Clinic on the same day after his treatment.
7 February 2024 – William resumes royal duties attending London's Air Ambulance Charity gala with Tom Cruise.
10 February 2024 – William and Kate spend February half-term with George, Charlotte and Louis at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. Kate's siblings are also pictured on holiday during the school holidays, with James Middleton and Alizee Thevenet flying to the Caribbean with baby Inigo, and Pippa Matthews and her family holidaying on the island of St Barts.
27 February 2024 – Kate said to be "doing well" as William pulls out of King Constantine memorial due to a "personal matter".
29 February 2024 – Kensington Palace addresses social media speculation, reiterating: "We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter."
10 March 2024 - A photograph of Kate with their three children at home in Windsor is released to mark Mother's Day and to thank the public for their "continued support".
11 March 2024 - Kate publicly apologises for the "confusion" around the photograph as she admitted she "occasionally experiments with editing," after news agencies pulled the image amid claims it had been digitally altered. The Princess is then seen in a car with William as she's driven to a private appointment in London.
19 March 2024 - Footage of William and Kate leaving the Windsor Farm Shop is shared by The Sun and TMZ in the first video sighting of the Princess since surgery.
22 March 2024 - Princess Kate confirms that she has been diagnosed with cancer in a moving video message and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
18 April 2024 - Prince William returns to royal duties after spending Easter holidays privately as a family.
10 May 2024 - Prince William says Kate is "doing well" as he visits the Isles of Scilly.
21 May 2024 - Princess Kate is "excited" as Kensington Palace shares update on her early years work with the release of her Business Taskforce's prioritising childhood report.
8 June 2024 - Princess Kate writes letter to Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take part in the salute at the Colonel's Review.
14 June 2024 - In a personal statement, Kate shares she is making "good progress" and that her "treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months".
15 June 2024 - Kate makes her first major public appearance since diagnosis at Trooping the Colour.
14 July 2024 - Kate watches the Men's final at Wimbledon with Princess Charlotte and Pippa Matthews.
11 August 2024 - William and Kate congratulate Team GB athletes in a video message after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
9 September 2024 - Kate confirms she's completed chemotherapy in moving video message.
10 October 2024 - Kate joins William on visit to bereaved families in Southport.
9/10 November 2024 - Princess attends Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Day service at Cenotaph.
3 December 2024 - Kate greets Emir of Qatar alongside William during state visit.
6 December 2024 - The Princess of Wales hosts her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
