Kate Middleton in Nov. 2023.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Kate Middletonis gearing up for her birthday!
Although Princess Kate’s birthday is usually a private and low-key affair, we know a few details about how she’s been fêted in past years.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales are based in Windsor (after relocating their primary residence there from London in 2022), Kate will likely spend her birthday at their country home in Norfolk,Anmer Hall. Located about 110 miles north of London, Anmer Hall was a gift fromQueen Elizabethfor the royal couple’s 2011 wedding and is whereKate is said to feel most at home. It’s where the family of five often escapes during school breaks, weekends and holidays. Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, are currently on a school break surrounding Christmas, which is also why Prince William and Princess Kate have yet to step out for a royal duty in 2024.
Kate Middleton with family on Christmas 2023 in Sandringham.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince William, 41, and Princess Kate often set aside a weekend at the start of the year to entertain their family and friends for a few days of shooting and other country pursuits. Theguest listhas previously included Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, William’s lifelong friendTom van Straubenzeeand his wife Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe, James Meade and his wife Laura, neighbor and longtime pal Sophie Snuggs and her husband Robert.
Before she died in 2022, Queen Elizabeth had also hosted them at Sandringham House for dinner.
On past birthday weekends, Kate and William have been seenattending massat St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where the royal family recently celebrated Christmas.
“At the end of the day, she’s in training to be a future queen, but honestly you would never know it,” a source close to Katepreviously told PEOPLE. “If you go round to her house, you get a cup of tea, and it’s often William who makes it! It’s a lovely, welcoming house, not a fancy, stuffy palace in any way.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton in Nov. 2023.Paul Campbell - WPA Pool/Getty
Paul Campbell - WPA Pool/Getty
“Wishing The Princess of Wales a very Happy Birthday today!” the King and Queen’s team captioned the snap with a birthday cake emoji.
Princess Kate also received well-wishes from military groups and charities of which she serves as a patron.
Kate Middleton attends Christmas concert on Dec. 8, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
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Westminster Abbey in London (where Kate married William in April 2011) is set to ring their bells in honor of the royal’s birthday on Tuesday.
Although Westminster Abbey was known for ringing its bells to celebrate the birthdays of numerous senior members of the royal family, the tradition has changed amid financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before 2020, the bells marked the birthdays of 12 royals. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their four children — then now-King Charles,Princess Anne,Prince AndrewandPrince Edward— all received the honor, as did Charles' wife, Camilla. Prince William, Kate and their three kids completed the list.
In 2024, the bells will ring for the four most senior royals' birthdays: Princess Kate on Jan. 9, Prince William on June 21, Queen Camilla on July 17 and King Charles on Nov. 14. They will also ring on June 15 for Trooping the Colour, the King’s public birthday celebrations as well as other royal occasions such as the coronation anniversary on May 6.
Kate Middleton in June 2023.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Like other royal consorts in history, Princess Kate has a toughness behind the scenes as she supports her husband and future king William.
“She has this public image of being nice and smiley and, dare I say, innocuous,” royal author Valentine Lowrecently told PEOPLE. “But she is actually strong-minded, strong-willed and prepared to fight for what she wants and what she thinks is right.”
“She’s very much seen as a player at the center of team Windsor,” added Simon Lewis, co-host of the BBC podcastWhenIt Hits the Fan.
source: people.com
