The Princess of Wales is celebrating her 43rd birthday today - and King Charles has paid a touching tribute to her.

The official Royal Family social media accounts shared a beautiful snap of the princess beaming at Sandringham on Christmas Day as she collected countless bouquets of flowers from wellwishers. The heartwarming picture was accompanied with a message saying: "Happy Birthday to The !" along with a birthday cake emoji.

Kate is known to be extremely close to her father-in-law the King with both having to process the shock news of cancer diagnoses last year. His sweet message comes as Kate will be marking the occasion at home in Windsor, with her family. Next week marks a year since she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16, just seven days after her 42nd birthday.

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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 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.

The princess’s birthday on January 9 falls on the same day as the state funeral of former US president Jimmy Carter. But it will be William’s uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, who will travel to Washington DC and represent Charles, rather than the heir to the throne as has often been the custom for the funeral of American leaders.

The princess, a future queen, is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties with more appearances this year. William and Kate look set to carry out an overseas visit together, with the prince hinting as much. “I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up,” he said during his tour to Cape Town last autumn.

The princess rounded off December by joining her family at church in Sandringham on Day, having hosted her festive carol concert at Westminster Abbey earlier in the month. She brought Christmas cheer with her annual carol concert, where she gathered with William and their children, other royals, and celebrities such as Paloma Faith and Richard E Grant.

Her birthday comes after she was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Carole and Michael Middleton on January 9 1982. She grew up in Berkshire with siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton. Kate met and began dating William at St Andrews University while studying History of Art.

The prince’s long-awaited proposal to his former flatmate came during a romantic holiday to Kenya, when he smuggled his late mother Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring in his backpack to surprise her. The couple married in Westminster Abbey in 2011, with Kate becoming the Duchess of Cambridge and also a future queen.

The bride wore an intricate ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, while the groom, on the strict instructions of his grandmother, Elizabeth II, was dressed in the red tunic of the Irish Guards. The princess has gradually and patiently developed her royal role over the years, focusing on mental health and the early years of childhood.

Kate and William have faced other personal challenges in recent years, dealing with the fallout from Megxit and the allegations levelled at them by the Sussexes amid the duke’s ongoing rift with his younger brother Harry.