Kate Middleton and Prince William: A look at their 2020 highlights
The Duchess of Cambridge turns 39 years old today, and took to Twitter to deliver a new photograph of herself as she thanked fans from across the globe for their birthday wishes. Kensington Palace tweeted out an uplifting message to the public, acknowledging that the Duchess was experiencing a very different birthday to previous occasions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. They said that “birthdays have been very different in recent months”, adding: “Our thoughts continue to be with all those working on the front line at this hugely challenging time.”
Due to Government restrictions, Kate will likely spend the day at home with Prince William and their three young children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
As households are not allowed to mix, the Cambridge fold will no doubt be celebrating together, while catching up with other family members on software such as Zoom.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often spend the occasion together, but two years ago, when she was turning 37, Kate missed out on time with her husband after he attended a special engagement.
Royal expert Catriona Harvey-Jenner explained that “for at least part of the day” Kate was unable to mark her birthday with William, claiming that while Kate “may or may not be cracking open a bottle of champers… Prince William will be at work”.
Kate Middleton snub: Prince William ‘spent Duchess’ birthday away from wife’ (Image: GETTY)
William and Kate after their tour last year (Image: GETTY)
William was visiting the London Air Ambulance, an event Ms Harvey-Jenner said was “ironically to celebrate 30 years of existence”.
She added in Cosmopolitan at the time: “To be fair, I doubt Kate will have a problem with William’s alternative commitment on her birthday.
“Considering the Prince served as an air ambulance pilot for years, and it provides such an important service, he’s probably got the green light to go and enjoy himself at the official engagement.”
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Kate Middleton and Prince William married in 2011 (Image: GETTY)
Last year’s celebrations were “overshadowed” after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had announced their intentions to stand down as senior members of the Royal Family.
The couple opted to make their decision public, pro-Sussex biography Finding Freedom co-authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim, as they were concerned their intentions to quit could be leaked to press.
This meant the public were informed of the desire to move away just after Harry’s grandmother the Queen was made aware.
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Royal news: The Cambridge family (Image: GETTY)
The decision sparked tension in the Royal Family, and insiders lashed out at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the timing of their announcement, which came just before Kate’s birthday.
Phil Dampier, a royal author, explained that the time that the announcement “overshadowed” the birthday plans, and was “another example of how far the so-called Fab Four have drifted apart”.
He added: “I doubt Harry and Meghan will be at any celebrations for Kate.
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s children (Image: GETTY)
“It’s a sad day for the monarchy that these two brothers and their wives, who had the potential to be such a positive force, are now in this position.”
Russell Myers, the Daily Mirror’s royal correspondent, also said their decision meant “the world is only talking about thing”, concluding: “Kate will be celebrating her birthday privately at home with the family and she certainly would prefer it that way given the whole furore over the Sussexes’ decision to press the nuclear button on their royal careers.”
Last year William told a hilarious anecdote about a previous present he had purchased for Kate, as he discussed his life with footballer Peter Crouch.
Royal Family tree (Image: EXPRESSS)
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, he said he had given Kate a pair of binoculars “early on in the courtship”, adding: “I was trying to convince myself about it.
“I was like, ‘But these are really amazing, look how far you can see!’
“She was looking at me going, ‘They’re binoculars, what’s going on?’ It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars.”
