Princess Kate celebrated her 44th birthday yesterday (Image: PA)
Royal fans were quick to vent their disappointment that no new picture of the Princess of Wales was released to mark her birthday on Friday. Instead they got a fresh glimpses of Catherine as she strolled through Berkshire in the final instalment of her Mother Nature series.
The future Queen, who celebrated her 44th birthday, privately marked the occasion at home with her nearest and dearest. Last year a black and white portrait of Catherine was released to mark her 43rd birthday, raising hopes that the usual protocol of only sharing images to mark ‘big birthdays’ (ones ending with an 0) had been abandoned.
However, a source close to the Prince and Princess explained that this spontaneous release was not a change in strategy but simply a loving gesture by William after a difficult year for his wife. Catherine’s birthday last year came after an extremely difficult year of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing gruelling chemotherapy for months on end.
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As a result, the heir wanted to mark her special day, which came days before it was publicly announced the princess was in remission, by releasing a smiling photo of his wife with a personal message.
“To the most incredible wife and mother,” he wrote. “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.” It was a deeply personal message that drew a line under the heartwrenching events of 2024.
With the princess resuming a normal schedule of public duties in the 12 months that followed, with engagements up and down the country and a two-day trip to the Isle of Mull, her birthday this year was about celebrating normality.
Her 44th birthday is about cherishing her husband and her children, a day to be marked without fanfare. This explains why no new picture was released, as 2026 is about returning to the normal routine of royal life and starting afresh. And there’s no greater symbol of that shift than their recent move to Forest Lodge. A fresh start for the family of five and a chance to grow and build together as they start a new chapter in life.
Prince Harry is not expected to meet with his father this month (Image: PA)
No royal reunion
Prince Harry’s trip back to the UK remains up in the air. He will return to his homeland this month for the start of his trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail, but the High Court has yet to confirm the specific timetable of the case.
It is expected to start on January 19, but as the court hasn’t officially confirmed the date he has yet to book his flights. The Duke’s trip to the UK is only expected to last a couple of days, as he needs to be back in the US for several longstanding work commitments.
With the King spending the start of January in Birkhall, Scotland and the brevity of Harry’s return, no reunion between father and son is expected.
They met last September for a 50-minute “tea and chat” but the King is keen to distance himself from his son’s crusade against the British media. His team also think it’s unwise to meet Harry when the outcome of his review into his UK security arrangements is due.
So as far as reconciliation is concerned, it’s the status quo for the time being. But who knows what the rest of the year may hold.
Zara and Mike Tindall have returned to Australia (Image: Publishd/REX/Shutterstock)
Zara and Mike Down Under
Zara and Mike Tindall are spending the next few weeks Down Under as part of their annual tradition on the Australian Gold Coast. For the past few years they have travelled the other side of the world for the Magic Millions polo and showjumping, as the couple serve as ambassadors for the event.
They started their trip by heading to watch the final few hours of the dead rubber Ashes series, after England’s humiliating defeat to the Aussies 5-1.
Speaking from the pitch after landing just hours earlier, Zara said: “It’s always nice to come into the heat, into the sunshine.” She’s got that right, especially given the mercury has plunged to below zero, bringing ice and snow, for us back in Britain!
Jam-gate
Another episode of jam-gate erupted last week after a bizarre series of events, starting with the accidental publication of Meghan Markle’s brand’s unsold inventory. Internet sleuths discovered that each of her products, ranging from spreads, wine and candles, showed the precise number left in stock.
While critics of the Duchess were quick to paint it as a failure, with over 137,000 unsold boxes of her signature fruit spread, 80,000 flower sprinkles and 46,000 bottles of her Sauvignon blanc, insiders clarified that business is booming after an initial purchase order of one million.
“I think it’s fair to say business isn’t just successful, it’s flying off the shelf,” they said. The source also revealed plans to expand her business to other countries, including the UK. So get your wallets at the ready…
Queen Camilla has marked five years of her Reading Room book club (Image: Getty Images for Buckingham Pala)
Reading Queen
What started out as a lockdown book club to share her love of reading and bring people together during a worrisome period, has just celebrated its fifth anniversary.
The Queen’s Reading Room saw Camilla recommend a series of books, inviting people to get involved. Now the venture is a registered charity, involves readers from over 180 countries and has a dedicated community of over 186,000 book lovers.
As a bookworm myself, I can attest the benefits of curling up with a good book. It allows you to shut off from the world, so I fully understand why reading has been found to have invaluable benefits to health and wellbeing.
That’s why the Queen is determined to showcase the power of reading and help improve global reading rates.