Kate Middleton Gets Back Behind the Camera to Celebrate Prince William’s 42nd Birthday

On Friday, Prince William celebrated his 42nd birthday, and to honor her husband, Kate Middleton shared an energetic photo from a recent family vacation, along with a tender message.

“Happy birthday, Papa, we all love you,” she captioned the Instagram post, along with the letter C, indicating that Kate wrote it herself.

The photo shows William holding hands with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George as the quartet jump over a sand dune covered with beach grass. On Sunday, the couple’s social media accounts shared another photo from the same May trip to Holkham Beach on the Norfolk seaside in honor of Father’s Day. Holkham is a half-hour drive away from Anmer Hall, William and Kate’s country home on the Sandringham Estate.

The family has been spotted walking their dog there in the past, and the late Queen Elizabeth II would reportedly visit the beach using a private entrance on the property of the Thomas Coke, the eighth Earl of Leicester.

Though Kate had a photography mishap earlier this year when a confusingly edited family photo went viral, the pair of photographs show that the princess is back behind the camera. Her birthday tribute to William even got a rave review from Millie Pilkington, one of the photographers who has taken official portraits of the family. “Such a heavenly portrait,” Pilkington said on Instagram, along with a few heart emoji. “Wonderful father and gorgeous children. Rather wonderful mother too.”

On Saturday, Kate made her first official public appearance since Christmas when she attended Trooping the Colour, the London birthday parade in honor of King Charles III. When she announced that she would attend, she shared a statement where she discussed the progress she has made since her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, though she added that her treatment will continue for a few more months.

On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she said. “I’m looking forward to attending the King’s birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.”