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A New Photo for the Princess’s 43rd Birthday

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A New Photo for the Princess’s 43rd Birthday

A heartfelt message from Prince William accompanied a new photo of the Princess of Wales released by Kensington Palace today.

The social media posts were shared to mark the Princess’s 43rd birthday. The black and white photo was taken by Matt Porteous last summer in Windsor. Mr. Porteous shared a personal message on his Instagram page.

It was just seven days after her 42nd birthday when the Princess was admitted to the hospital for serious abdominal surgery last year—more from this Daily Mirror story by Russell Meyers. 

She spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after undergoing the major operation, and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy. The royal family is hoping for a better 2025 after what William described as a ‘brutal’ and probably “the hardest year” of his life, with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease.

In a video released in September, the princess announced that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment. Below is a frame from that video.

In his story for People, Simon Perry reports the Princess “is spending the day at home at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor with her husband Prince William and children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, who returned to school after the Christmas break on Jan. 8.”

Buckingham Palace also posted birthday sentiments on its Royal Family social media accounts, sharing a photo from Christmas Day.  

The Westminster Abbey bells rang for the Princess.

There were many social media posts sharing good wishes for the Princess. 

This one is from the Welsh Guards. 

This post is from Evelina London Hospital. 

Here is one from one of the Princess’s first patronages, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices).

In this image shared by Billie Jean King, you see the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the 2021 Wimbledon Ladies’ Single’s Final. 

Many will recall the formal photo portraits taken to mark her fortieth birthday. 

Photographer Paolo Roversi shot three images, all featuring the Princess in Alexander McQueen designs.

Photos have not always been released to mark the Princess’s birthdays—more from this piece in The Times. 

In a break with palace tradition, a new picture of the Princess of Wales has been released to mark Kate’s 43rd birthday as her husband praised his “incredible” wife’s “remarkable” strength.

The release of a previously unseen picture from Kensington Palace breaks with tradition as a date that is not a “milestone” birthday would not typically be marked in this way. However, the prince alluded to the fact that it has not been a typical year for his wife.

Thoughts on the photo from The Telegraph’s Rebecca Cope. 

With her hands in her pockets and looking away from the camera, the picture shows Kate looking relaxed and happy in faded dark jeans, a white blouse with pleated bib detail, black jacket and scarf, with only her sapphire engagement ring to accessorise the look.

The styling is particularly chic, with her sleeves rolled up and top button undone. The scarf, a gingham check with a short fringed hem, rests on top, giving it a lived-in look that doesn’t look too studied – quite different from the way we see her on engagements, where every sartorial detail is carefully considered.

Now for a look at what Kate wore in this year’s birthday photo. 

The Princess is in a pair of dark-wash jeans that I haven’t been able to identify, nor can I tell which jacket or blazer she has on in the photo. UPDATE JAN 10: Several friends have pointed out that the lining on the Princess’s jacket has a distinctive stripe. Middleton Maven points out it is similar to a jacket by LK Bennett, the retailer’s Mariner Navy Blend Jacket ($475).  The style is made with ECOVERO™, “…fibers made from wood with at least 50% less carbon emissions and water consumption compared to generic viscose.” We won’t know for sure if it is this blazer until we see it worn another time, but the LK Bennett design seems a good possibility.

UPDATE JAN 11: A friend has pointed out what looks like a pocket flap in the photo Kensington Palace released, somethingI completely missed. That would rule out this jacket.

A side note: LK Bennett is in the midst of its Archive Sale, with many items discounted by 70%. This includes items like the Laurie Gingham ECOVERO™ Print Top ($37), the Karis Blue Italian Recycled Cotton Blend Tweed Skirt ($88), and the Tabitha Belted Crepe Pencil Skirt ($97).

Middleton Maven suggests the scarf she is wearing could be the Gingham Check Stole ($145 – $315) by Scottish retailer Brora, a brand we know the Princess wears. It isn’t easy to see in the photo, but the Princess’s shirt has a tuxedo-style pleated bib, or bodice. Middleton Maven notes the shirt is similar to Frame’s Standard Tuxedo Shirt, but it’s impossible to say it is this style without more photos. 

Middleton Maven points out this is likely the shirt the Princess wore when visiting a Ukrainian support hub in October 2023, and I think she is spot-on in that assessment.
If I learn anything more about the ensemble, I will update the post. 

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Also today, a quick note about a new earring style from jewelry company Ear Sass. You may remember the brand from when the Princess wore the Ear Sass Issy Star Earrings ($33) in October 2023.

The earrings were a gift to the Princess from Sarah Renton; they were created in memory of her daughter, Issy, who took her life earlier that year. They were designed by Issy’s cousin, Sophie McGown, the jewelry company’s founder and designer. They are sold at Ear Sass as a fundraiser for mental health charity Brave Mind, and thus far, almost £17,000 has been donated to Brave Mind. The brand is offering another pair of earrings, also a fundraiser for Brave Mind. The Catherine Earrings ($34) launched today in honor of the Princess’s birthday. 

Here you see EAR SASS founder and designer Sophie McGown, Issy’s cousin, wearing the Catherine earrings. 

The hoop earrings feature delicate pink beads and are offered in 14K gold plating on sterling silver. More on the earrings from the Ear Sass site.

These stunning earrings are dedicated to The Princess of Wales Catherine for her incredible support in helping us raise over £17k for our chosen mental health charity Brave Mind. The princess wore the Issy Star earrings on World Mental Health Day 2023 to honor my cousin Issy, who tragically took her life. To say it meant the world to us as a family would be an understatement. It wasn’t just that she wore the earrings—it was the way she did it, with the utmost compassion and thoughtfulness.

The reason why Catherine wearing the earrings on World Mental Health Day was so significant is that she didn’t just wear them at any time—she chose to wear them on this day to honour  Issy and raise awareness about mental health. She used that moment to tell the world how much she cared and to show how deeply she supports others. Catherine’s kindness and support have been nothing short of remarkable, and her gesture will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

 

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ElizaMo

Friday 17th of January 2025

It's wonderful to see Catherine looking so full of life and confident in her casual outfit. It's a classic combination for her with dark jacket, white shirt, and colourful contrast check scarf. There's quite a mix of feminine and practical on show, with her long hair beautifully waved, the turned up white shirt cuffs, and her hands in her pockets, but only the fingertips, so not spoiling the line of the jeans. She's prepared for business, but on her own terms.

I find the pose interesting and have to keep coming back to it, which ought to make it a good photograph. I'm a little puzzled how her chest seems to be pushed out, emphasised by the upward angle of the shot. This seems to suggest a matronly theme, as if mother-of-the-family equals mother-of-the-nation perhaps.

I'm glad to see the continuing link with Ear Sass, and the new earrings are very charming, if a touch fussy for my own taste. It's wonderful if the mental health project can be supported in this way.

Sue V

Monday 13th of January 2025

We’ll probably never know but I think the dark wash of the jeans is much like those Catherine wore in the photo published last June when she issued her statement thanking everyone for their supportive messages. Leaning against a tree looking up to the sky. (Also taken by Matt Porteous, if I remember correctly.)

Regarding @Indie’s reference to Catherine smiling at someone off camera in the latest photo, I thought at the time that perhaps it was William who was lurking!

Indie

Tuesday 14th of January 2025

@Sue V, Lol, that it might be William never occurred to me!

Zell

Saturday 11th of January 2025

I hope the Princess of Wales had a Very Happy Birthday with her family! Prince William's message to Catherine is very beautiful and moving! It shows how much he loves and admires his wife!

I also love the new Birthday photo! Catherine looks so very confident and poised, but also comes across as warm, witty and personable. Her outfit is chic, without tying too hard. It is relaxed, yet includes her glorious sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which once graced Diana's hand. This touch of elegance in her ring, which she wears, when she might have worn her much more simpler bands, speaks volumes to me: two strong, amazing women, one of whom perished tragically and long before her time, not very long after her birthday, while another has had a very frightening and serious health crisis soon after her birthday of last year, yet seems to have emerged even stronger than before in some way that this photo communicates. My hope for Catherine is that the year ahead is a good one for her, and for her family, and that she woll take all the rest and healing which she might still need and likely does still need, on a way back to full health. ♥️

Laurel

Saturday 11th of January 2025

While I find the pose a little awkward, overall I like the confidence and, most of all, the good health Catherine shows here. I also love that scarf. I followed the link someone provided below to the Brora website (assuming that is indeed the scarf she is wearing), and fell in love. I never thought I would be spending so much on a scarf, but I could not resist, and ordered the sky-and-ebony gingham scarf. Can't wait till it arrives! I will try to wear it similar to the way she does here.

Indie

Friday 10th of January 2025

I have tried to like this, but I’m afraid it isn’t my favourite portrait of Catherine by a long shot. The pose looks a bit awkward to me, smiling to someone offscreen, her hands not really fitting in her pockets. And while I’m always up for a crisp white shirt and jeans, I don’t find the scarf adds anything.

Sorry to be so negative! I definitely agree with everyone that she looks strong and happy and that’s the main thing!

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