Brave Princess Kate has released touching Father’s Day photo of William and their children – as the royal trio paid a loving tribute to their ‘Papa’.
For the first time in their lives the royal children have been given the chance to release a statement about their parents, after a difficult year that has seen their mother diagnosed with cancer.
The photo showed Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, on a beach trip alongside their father, posing with their backs to the camera as they looked out to sea.
In a short message, they said: ‘We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day. G, C & L.’ The post also included an emoji of two hearts.
Watching out at the peaceful sands, the two brothers have their arms around each other in a sweet tableau while Charlotte wraps hers around her father. William reaches out to hold all his children as they stand on a grassy dune.
The relaxed, contemplative scene – which was taken earlier this year – sees all the royals in shorts, with blue jumpers and t-shirts.
It was taken on the Norfolk coast, close to where the family spent the Easter weekend at their Anmer Hall home.
The royal trio yesterday starred in the King’s birthday parade as they joined the Prince and Princess of Wales in front of adoring royal fans.
The photo showed the trio on a beach trip alongside their father, posing with their backs to the camera as they looked out to sea
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
George, Charlotte and Prince Louis, waved to crowds packing The Mall as they rode in a carriage through central London, before taking refuge to watch the event from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with other senior royals.
They later joined their grandfather, the King, on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to watch an RAF flypast amid the Trooping the Colour celebrations.
The photo – taken by the Princess herself – comes after she returned to the public eye yesterday when she made her first appearance this year following her cancer diagnosis.
After months of chemotherapy, which is still ongoing, the princess joined what is a family occasion on the national stage yesterday but kept a watchful eye on her children.
Her appearance was in doubt after she missed the final Trooping the Colour rehearsal last weekend, but with the King also suffering from cancer the spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after a period of uncertainty.
During the day she was surrounded by other members of the family, with her husband the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, as were the Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards.
Kate said in a statement on Friday she was making ‘good progress’ with her treatment but candidly added she has ‘good days and bad days’ and, although she has been working from home, said ‘I am not out of the woods yet’.
Support from the public has made a deep impression on the princess, who said she had been ‘blown away’ by the ‘kind messages’ that had made a ‘world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times’.
She has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes ‘to join a few public engagements over the summer’.
To mark the news Kensington Palace also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor Castle this week by Matt Porteous, showing her looking well and in a reflective mood.
The monarch, 75, said he was ‘delighted’ that his daughter-in-law would be joining the royal family at tomorrow’s events and is ‘much looking forward to all elements of the day’.
Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, has just recently returned to public-facing duties while still receiving his own course of treatment for an undisclosed form of the disease.
It is understood that Kate spoke to the King in advance about her attendance during the festivities.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events and is very much looking forward to all elements of the day.’
Asked how the princess was feeling, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘As she has said she is making good progress and is looking forward to joining the family tomorrow.
‘As she said in her message, and as anyone receiving chemotherapy will know, she has good days and bad days.’
Last night, Kate released a statement saying she was making ‘good progress’ with her treatment, but candidly said she has ‘good days and bad days’ and although she has been working from home, said ‘I am not out of the woods yet’
The statement from the Princess of Wales which has been issued by Kensington Palace today
Kate was last seen at a royal event attending church at Sandringham on December 25, 2023
Kensington Palace said it will be not commenting further on her treatment and how long it is expected to last.
The Princess first announced that she had cancer on March 22.
In a hugely moving video statement, recorded at Windsor, she revealed that she had been diagnosed following serious abdominal surgery in January and was already undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.
In the video – which had been filmed just two days earlier – Catherine revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’ and that she and William ‘have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.
‘It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,’ she said.
In March, another photo taken by Kate of her with her children sparked wild conspiracy theories after it was pulled over fears it had been digitally manipulated.
And in an unprecedented move the Princess of Wales apologised for editing the Mother’s Day portrait herself, which showed the mother-of-three beaming alongside George, Catherine and Louis.
A statement from the Princess of Wales said: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.
‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C’
They said the couple wanted to offer an ‘informal’ picture of the family together for Mother’s Day and the princess made ‘minor adjustments’, as she has shared in her statement on social media. An aide added: ‘The Wales family spent Mother’s Day together and had a wonderful day.’
In early May she stepped behind the camera again as she posted a beaming phgoto of Princess Charlotte for her birthday.
With flowing blonde hair and her cheeky grin, the young royal looked every inch the perfect Princess, wearing a £42 raspberry wool cardigan from Parisian brand Cyrillus teamed with a denim skirt from the same brand.
The photo marked a positive sign that Kate was well enough to be up and about and taking photos, which is one of her passions.
The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today
With flowing blonde hair and her cheeky grin, Princess Charlotte was every inch the perfect Princess in her ninth birthday portrait
Kensington Palace released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery in March, sparking conspiracy theories
Earlier today, the Prince of Wales also shared a photo of him playing football with the King to mark Father’s Day.
The photo of William and Charles together in the gardens of Kensington Palace was taken on June 12 1984.
‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa,’ the social media post, personally signed by William, said.
The Prince of Wales has shared a photo (pictured) of him playing football with the King to mark Father’s Day
The photo, taken on June 12 1984 shows William and Charles playing together. ‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa,’ the post, personally signed by William, said
King Charles and Queen Camilla led the Father’s Day tributes this morning with a touching video montage of Charles and Philip (pictured)
In a gentle scene, the older siblings Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince George, 10, can be seen waiting nervously in the doorway as Kate quietly smooths her daughter’s locks
Charlotte can be seen anxiously moving around as she clasps her hands in front of her, and she quietly says a few words to her mother while watching the carriage approach
Then, as royals walk in synchronized steps towards their seats Charlotte seems to take a deep breath, while Kate tenderly takes her hand
Steadied by her family, as she waits in the carriage to set off, she can be seen smiling happily through the window as they chat together in the coach
The moment was captured as the family waited for their carriage to arrive – with the drivers graciously doffing their hats as they pulled in
Beaming Princess Charlotte couldn’t help but smile as she appeared alongside her brother Prince George at today’s Trooping the Colour
The photo taken by the PA news agency shows an almost two-year-old William in short dungarees and a stripey blue top and the King in a grey double-breasted suit kicking a small football.
Later that same year William would gain a younger brother, with the Duke of Sussex born in September.
Sweet behind the scenes videos from yesterday’s royal event showed Kate beaming alongside her children as she prepared to once again go in front of the British crowds.
Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
Kate’s appearance was to mark the family occasion and she is not expected to return to full-time royal duties until she has fully recovered.
With a gentle smile, she sat in the carriage outside Buckingham Palace next to cheeky Prince Louis, as he grinned and leant forward to make sure we can all see his wave to the cameraman.
In a sweet tribute, the Prince and Princess of Wales said: ‘Thank you to everyone involved in Trooping the Colour.
‘Always in awe of the work that goes into putting together such an incredible afternoon.’
Kate beams as she accompanies her children in a carriage during today’s procession (pictured L-R: Kate, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte)
Prince Louis (left) pulls a face at the crowd as Princess Charlotte (right) looks regal as they join the parade
Another snap of the popular young Prince showed him grimacing as he rode to Buckingham Palace
Prince William, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne salute on Horse Guards Parade for the King’s Birthday Parade
Another video, released yesterday, further revealed the lovely scene just seconds before the group set off, with Princess Charlotte, and Prince George, waiting nervously in the doorway as Kate quietly smoothed her daughter’s locks.
Charlotte could be seen anxiously moving around as she clasped her hands in front of her, and she quietly said a few words to her mother while watching the carriage approach.
The King also rode in a carriage with the Queen, a departure from last year because of his illness, and inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.
Garrison Sergeant Major Stokes who helped plan Trooping praised Kate, he said: ‘I think it’s such a nice thing for the Princess of Wales to come and attend today.
‘It is probably the only day we see the entire royal family together in public and I think the royal family really appreciate the day as well – it’s the closest thing we get in the United Kingdom to a national day, so all of that makes it incredibly special.’
Then, as the royals walked in synchronized steps towards their seats Charlotte seemed to take a deep breath, while Kate tenderly took her hand.
And steadied by her family, as she waited in the carriage to set off, she could be seen smiling happily through the window as they chatted together in the coach.
Louis – who appeared to have no such nerves – was laid back as he leaned casually against the wall, wearing shorts and a smart jacket.
King Charles III salutes the gathered guardsmen as the line was presented
King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel along The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony
Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today
The little prince stole the show again yesterday at Trooping the Colour, as he was pictured yawning, trying to open a window and dancing to the military music as the princess and her young family watched the pomp and pageantry in Horse Guards Parade.
In other moments from the clip, the Wales family were seen waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony, alongside clips of the King and Queen departing in their carriage.
Prince William could also be seen proudly sitting to attention as he rode on horseback and his father gave the royal salute, and the Red Arrows roared over the royal residence.
Mrs Haddow said: ‘Well, like anybody going through chemotherapy, it’s a big thing for her to come out and do this. We were a wee bit back but she looked fine, happy to be involved and she was with the kids.’
She said the royal family played an important part in ‘bringing in tourism’ to the country, adding: ‘It’s a great thing to have a king or queen.’
It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, including hundreds of guardsmen lined up in two rows who were inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the mounted royal Colonels.
The colour, or regimental flag, that was trooped in front of the soldiers, an ancient ceremony to enable servicemen to identify their flag, was the King’s Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards, the regiment Kate serves as Colonel.
Dark clouds threatened rain but luckily for organisers the downpour came as the royal family left in carriages for their balcony appearance to watch the fly-past, with the rain ending as the first jets roared overhead and the Red Arrows provided the finale.
During the aerial show, William was pictured affectionately pulling Louis’ ears as Kate watched and grinned and when the national anthem was played big sister Charlotte gave her younger sibling a nudge to stand still.
