London:

Catherine, Princess of Wales, turned 43 on Thursday, with her husband Prince William praising her “strength” fighting cancer during the past year.

Kate, as she is widely known, revealed last March that she had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

The announcement came weeks after her father-in-law, Britain’s head of state King Charles III, disclosed that he too was receiving treatment for cancer.

Both withdrew from public life for months in 2024 but have since returned to royal duties, on a more limited scale for Kate.

Charles, 76, is reportedly continuing his treatment while Kate said in September that she had finished a course of chemotherapy but that her “path to healing and full recovery is long”.

Kensington Palace has not said where the princess would mark the start of her 44th year.

She usually spends it in Norfolk, eastern England, with her children — Prince George 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis — and her husband, who is heir to the throne.

Posting a photo of a smiling Kate on social media Thursday, William addressed his birthday message “to the most incredible wife and mother”.

“The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you,” he wrote.

Charles’s Buckingham Palace X account also posted “happy birthday to the Princess of Wales” and shared a photo of Kate smiling.

She and William are set to make more appearances together in 2025 as they eye a return to normality, with William suggesting that an overseas trip may even be on the cards.

The princess has not taken part in an official foreign visit since she attended the Rugby World Cup in France in October 2023.

She first resumed royal duties in October, visiting Southport in northwest England to meet people affected by a knife attack that killed three young girls three months earlier.

In November, she appeared at two remembrance events over consecutive days for Britons killed in the world wars and other conflicts, before also attending the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to Britain in December.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Per Page Six, during an interview, the Prince of Wales revealed that he once presented the Princess of Wales with a pair of binoculars, a gift that has since become a running joke between the couple.

“I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once. She’s never let me forget that,” Prince William said, as per Page Six.

“That was early on in the courtship — I think that sealed the deal.” He went on to explain that the gift didn’t go over well, adding, “It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time,” as per Page Six.

The humorous confession comes from the early days of their relationship, which began when both William and Kate were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

The couple met in 2001 and, after years of dating, married in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

While the binoculars might not have been the perfect gift at the time, they have since become a fond memory for Kate, who William joked “has never let me forget” it.

In fact, the royal family has a tradition of exchanging gag gifts during the holidays, as per Page Six.

Prince Harry, for example, revealed in his 2023 memoir, Spare, that he once received a fish-shaped ballpoint pen from Princess Margaret, while it’s also been reported that Harry gifted Queen Elizabeth II a cheeky shower cap with the words “Ain’t life a b–h” on it, as per Page Six.

Meanwhile, Kate herself once reportedly gave Harry a playful “grow-your-own-girlfriend” kit.

This year, Prince William, Kate, and their three children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 spent the festive season at the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, following the longstanding royal tradition of gathering there for Christmas.

Ahead of the holiday, Prince William shared that he would be hosting 45 guests at Sandringham and anticipated a “noisy” celebration.

However, one notable absence this year was Prince Harry and his family.

Reports from Page Six suggest that Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, did not receive an invitation to the holiday festivities.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Prince William has shared the details of a gift he once gave Princess Kate early in their relationship – one that has since become a source of playful teasing.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 42, met in 2001 at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

“I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once. She’s never let me forget that,” the Prince of Wales revealed during an appearance on BBC Radio Five Live.

“That was early on in the courtship – I think that sealed the deal. It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time,” he added.

While the binoculars didn’t quite hit the mark as a romantic gift, they have since become a humorous memory for the royal couple. It seems that light-hearted gifts have become a tradition within the royal family, particularly during Christmas.

William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, in his 2023 memoir Spare, had also shared that Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, once gave him a quirky fish-shaped ballpoint pen.

The royals are known for exchanging amusing presents, with Prince Harry having previously gifted Queen Elizabeth II a cheeky shower cap emblazoned with the words, “Ain’t life a b-h.” Meanwhile, Kate is said to have once given Harry a “grow-your-own-girlfriend” kit.

This year, the royal family continued its festive traditions at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where they celebrated Christmas. Prince William, in preparation for the event, disclosed he was expecting to welcome 45 guests to the estate, expecting a lively gathering. Among those joining King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the holiday celebrations were William and Kate’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

This holiday season is expected to be particularly meaningful for the family as they reunite after a challenging year. King Charles III continues his cancer treatment, while Princess Kate shared in September that she had completed her preventive chemotherapy.

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – were reportedly not invited to join the royal festivities at Sandringham.

Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, on Saturday unveiled plans to work with a local charity to deliver a new mental health programme to support those on the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

The couple’s Kensington Palace office said the collaboration with Norfolk and Waveney Mind will boost mental health support for the rural and farming communities of Northwest Norfolk.

Prince William and Kate, both 42, are co-funding the new pilot scheme as additional mental health support to combat rural isolation and poor mental health.

“We are all too aware of the specific mental health challenges faced by people in rural settings, particularly those in the farming community,” said Sonja Chilvers, Interim CEO of Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

“We’re delighted to be working with The Prince and Princess of Wales, who know our Northwest Norfolk communities well, and we are keen to see the difference that this pilot will make to local people’s mental health,” she said.

“Our innovative new partnership will drive proactive outreach and preventative measures to the whole community and form a vital step in better protecting the wellbeing of local people. If successful, it could be used as an example and replicated in other rural estates and communities across the UK,” she said.

The partnership comes as the charity launches its Talking Therapies service of free counselling for people experiencing anxiety and depression. The new pilot will have the potential to reach across the 1,500 strong community in Northwest Norfolk, nearly half of whom live on the royal Sandringham Estate. It will officially launch in 2025 and run for two years to provide two part-time roles, including one Rural Mental Health Coordinator and one Counsellor.

“The pilot programme will also involve the roll out of mental health training to local employers so that members of the community can be better supported at looking after their mental health before they hit crisis point. It is also hoped the project can become a blueprint for sustainable rural mental health funding, which if successful could be rolled out to other rural estates across the UK,” Kensington Palace said.

As well as boosting local provision of direct, face-to-face counselling and drop-in sessions, the scheme will run targeted sessions for different members of the community, including parent and toddler groups, menopause and men’s groups. The aim will be to provide support in a “safe, non-judgemental environment, and build supportive relationships between attendees”.

It is hoped that the pilot can be a blueprint for sustainable rural mental health funding which could then be rolled out across other estates across the country.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, said on Monday she had finished her course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer, saying the treatment had given her a new perspective and made her grateful for “simply loving and being loved”.

Kate, 42, wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, underwent major abdominal surgery in January which revealed the presence of cancer and has been undergoing treatment since then.

In a personal message accompanying a unique video of her with her husband and their three young children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, Kate said she would be carrying out a handful of public engagements later this year, but said her path to full recovery would be long.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in her message.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”

Kate made her first public appearance since her health issues emerged in June at the annual military parade to mark the official birthday of King Charles. In July, she appeared at the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Her office, Kensington Palace, has declined to give any further details about the type of cancer or other specifics about her treatment, other than to say the preventative chemotherapy began in February.

‘SCARY’

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said.

“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”

In the video, which was filmed in Norfolk, eastern England last month, the princess looked well and healthy.

The film showed the family walking through woods, carrying a cricket bat and ball, and Kate lying on a beach next to William. In other footage she was shown pushing Louis on a swing and being joined by her parents as they played a board game.

She and William were grateful for the global messages of support, she said, adding she was looking forward to returning to public duties when she was able, although her programme for the remainder of the year will remain light.

“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” said the princess, often referred to by her maiden name Kate Middleton.

“Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life … To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, revealed in March that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Amid this, a new royal biography has revealed that she had an emergency surgery as a teenager to remove a lump from her head, as per a report in the Independent. This was shared by royal author Rob Jobson in his upcoming book, ‘Catherine, the Princess of Wales’.

“Apart from debilitating bouts of morning sickness and, of course, stays in the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital to deliver her babies, Catherine has fortunately avoided hospital for most of her life,” Mr Jobson explained. “As a teenager, however, when at Marlborough College she discovered a lump on the left side of her head, just under her hairline,” he added.

The author added that her mother took her to the hospital where the doctors removed it. “The school notified her parents immediately and her mother Carole took her to hospital, where she had surgery to remove it,” he wrote in the book.

However, the operation left a three-inch scar which several people noticed on Ms Middleton’s first solo engagement over two decades ago. The Buckingham Palace shared a brief statement that read, “‘The scar is related to a childhood operation.”

Meanwhile, the Princess said in June that she was making good progress as she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. However, she was “not out of the woods”.

In a personal written message, Ms Middleton said she had been “blown away” by the thousands of kind messages from across the globe which followed her cancer announcement in March. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” her statement said.

She added, “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.” She said they had made a world of difference to her and her husband, heir-to-the-throne Prince William.

“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” she said. “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she said on June 14.

The Princess of Wales was recently seen at the Wimbledon Men’s final in London as she walked onto the court to present the trophy to winner Carlos Alcaraz. A passionate tennis fan and player herself, Kate was greeted with a thunderous ovation as she entered the Royal Box at Centre Court, accompanied by her daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Matthews.

 

Marking a milestone on their family’s social media channels, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis penned a heartfelt message for their father, Prince William, on Father’s Day. This sweet tribute, signed “G, C, & L,”  marked the first time the young royals had directly contributed to their parents’ official social media presence. The post was accompanied by a heartwarming photograph, likely taken by their mother, the Princess of Wales, showcasing the close bond between Prince William and his children.

The post on X reads, “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day”, followed by two red hearts.

The heartwarming photo, captured by Kate Middleton, shows a relaxed Prince William with his arms around his children, gazing out at the Norfolk coastline. The picture was reportedly taken during a family trip last month.

We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day G, C & L

The Princess of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/kI9AFV2XmT

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

Earlier on Sunday, William shared his own Father’s Day tribute to his father, King Charles III. The prince posted a photograph from his childhood, showing him playing football with the King in the gardens of Kensington Palace. The picture, taken on 12 June 1984, captures the nearly two-year-old prince smiling as he kicks a brightly coloured football. Just a few months after this photo was taken, William’s younger brother, the Duke of Sussex, was born.

The post is personally signed off by the prince, with the caption: “Happy Father’s Day, Pa.”

Happy Father’s Day, Pa. W pic.twitter.com/pjGuB2iLQ1

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

The Father’s Day post, featuring a football theme, could be a way to show support for the England team playing in Euro 2024 this evening.

Elgin, UK:

Facilities at Gordonstoun School in northeast Scotland include a climbing wall, rifle range and a five-hole golf course, while pupils can even avail themselves of bagpipe lessons.

But there is another reason why the institution in the far north of Scotland is well-known: one of its former pupils happens to be King Charles III.

It is hard to get more isolated than Gordonstoun, which lies near the city of Elgin, on the North Sea coast some 66 miles (106 kilometres) northwest of Aberdeen.

Getting there involves driving along narrow country roads.

Behind its gates are peaceful grounds stretching over 220 acres (90 hectares), with majestic trees and lush grass well watered by the Scottish rain.

Some 500 children and teenagers from about 40 countries attend the school, including Amelia Lee, 17, from Hong Kong, who has Charles’s old rooms.

“It’s just kind of surreal,” she told AFP, pointing out the desk where the future king would have worked and a chest of drawers from the time.

“To be honest, I don’t really use this,” she added. “I do store my snacks there.”

Lee was allocated the room after being elected class captain, just as Charles had been in his schooldays after initially sleeping in a dormitory.

Charles, then known as the Prince of Wales, spent his teenage years from 13 to 18 at Gordonstoun between 1962 and 1967.

His school attendance was a first at the time for a future British monarch, who until that point had been educated by a tutor.

“He was treated just as any other student,” said Gordonstoun principal Lisa Kerr.

Lara Croft

At the end of May, the king, now 75, agreed to become an honorary patron of the Gordonstoun Association of former pupils.

It was the latest public relations coup for the school, which has been working hard to dispel the idea that the monarch hated his time there.

Charles has often been quoted as describing his time at the school as like “Colditz in kilts”, likening it to the World War II prisoner of war camp.

The hit TV series based on the British royal family, “The Crown”, gave the reported comments wider currency.

But Kerr said: “We spent many, many months trying to find the origin of (“Colditz in Kilts”). We were not able to find it, so we have to accept it is a myth.”

Kerr accepted that his days would have begun with a morning jog to get the circulation moving, then a hot shower followed by a cold one.

Gordonstoun still provides a “challenging and broad” education, guided by the motto “plus est en vous” — “there is more in you” — to encourage effort.

On one wall pupils are told: “We don’t grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges.”

The school was founded in 1934 by a German-Jewish educator, Kurt Hahn, who fled the Nazis.

Among its first pupils was Charles’s father Prince Philip, who was married to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles’s younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, also attended it.

Other royal families also send their children to the school while Sean Connery’s son Jason and David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones both attended it.

The creators of “Tomb Raider” Lara Croft also imagined the adventurer as a former pupil after it opened its doors to girls in 1972.

Charles sent his two sons William and Harry to another elite school, Eton, near Windsor Castle, west of London.

Coastguard

Between classes, pupils wander around the Gordonstoun grounds in small groups in their sky blue and grey uniforms.

A third of the pupils are from Scotland, another third are other British with the remainder from overseas. Fees reach some £50,000 ($64,000) a year. Some pupils are on scholarships.

“It’s not just about passing exams and getting good grades,” said Kerr. “It’s about becoming a better person.”

Fees go towards a range of activities, from cricket and swimming, to tennis, hockey and sailing, while those more interested in music can have private lessons, including on the bagpipes.

One teenager sings in front of her classmates on the same stage where Charles once played Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s Scottish play, watched by his mother in the audience.

All senior pupils must join one of the school’s nine community and rescue services. Amelia Lee is part of the Coastguard Rescue Team.

The pupils train with local coastguards on the cliffs above the sea.

“When it’s pouring down with rain… when it’s really cold, it teaches you about resilience,” Lee said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and his wife Kate, stole the show today during the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since surgery five months ago revealed the presence of cancer. The 6-year-old was seen dancing during today’s Trooping the Colour ceremony, which marks the official birthday of the British monarch, King Charles. Videos of Louis dancing have gone viral on social media.

In the videos, Louis is seen standing on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with Kate and his siblings – Prince George and Princess Charlotte – during the parade. He breaks into an impromptu dance and does not stop even after a mild scolding from his elder sister Charlotte.

Kate, whose royal name is Princess Catherine, is seen smiling as Louis continues his dance.

Prince Louis dances along to proceedings.#TroopingTheColourpic.twitter.com/nehvzkNQUm

— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) June 15, 2024

Minutes before Louis’ light moment, Kate rode in a carriage with her three children before disembarking to watch proceedings from a viewing point.

Crowds lining the streets waved and cheered as the carriage went past.

The appearance comes nearly three months after the future queen revealed she was receiving chemotherapy treatment. The 42-year-old princess had not been seen at a public engagement since a Christmas Day service last year.

Charles rode in a separate carriage with Queen Camilla, followed by Prince William, Charles’ heir and Kate’s husband, who was on horseback along with other senior members of the royal family.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Saturday made a tentative return to public life for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer, attending a military parade in central London to mark Britain’s King Charles III’s official birthday.

Kate Middleton, as she is widely known, rode in a carriage alongside her three children at the outset of the annual celebration before disembarking to watch proceedings from a viewing point.

It comes nearly three months after the future queen revealed she was receiving chemotherapy treatment. The 42-year-old princess had not been seen at a public engagement since a Christmas Day service last year.

In a Friday evening statement Kate Middleton said she was “making good progress” with her treatment, which is set to last for several more months, but was “not out of the woods yet”.

“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer,” the princess said.

Kate Middleton’s announcement that she had cancer came just weeks after it was disclosed that her father-in-law, King Charles III, had also been diagnosed with the condition.

Neither has revealed what type of cancer they have.

British head of state King Charles, 75, was given the green light to resume public duties in April, after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by his progress.

His first engagement was meeting staff and patients at a London cancer treatment centre.

Earlier this month, he attended commemoration events in northern France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

‘Our future queen’

However, unlike previous years when he inspected troops on horseback at Trooping the Colour, King Charles participated this year from a carriage, in full military regalia alongside Queen Camilla.

His elder son and heir Prince William, 41, rode on horseback, also in military uniform.

Kate Middleton, wearing a white dress and hat, had been seen arriving by car at Buckingham Palace with Prince William and their children ahead of the parade, which formally began at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).

Spectators on The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace to witness the yearly ceremonial event welcomed Kate Middleton’s tentative return to public appearances.

“I was so pleased to hear the news last night,” Angela Perry, a teacher in her 50s from Reading in central England, told AFP.

“She’s our future queen. She’s so important,” she added, calling Kate Middleton’s reemergence “reassuring”.

Royal officials will be keen to manage expectations about Kate Middleton’s gradual return to the public eye, and have maintained that her appearances will depend on her treatment and recovery.

Kate Middleton explained in her statement that she had “good days and bad days” and was “taking each day as it comes”.

After travelling with Prince George, aged 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis in a state carriage to watch the parade from a building, the family were set to return to Buckingham Palace for a balcony appearance.

Protests

Trooping the Colour marks the British sovereign’s official birthday and is a minutely choreographed military tradition dating back more than two centuries.

It starts at Buckingham Palace and moves down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where King Charles will receive a royal salute before inspecting soldiers.

King Charles was actually born in November but the second birthday tradition dates back to King George II in 1748, who wanted to have a celebration in better weather as his own birthday was in October.

The ceremony has its origins in the preparations for war, where all regimental flags — or colours — were shown to the soldiers so that they would recognise them in the confusion of battle.

This year’s event will include three of five military horses that bolted through the streets of central London in April after being spooked by the noise of building construction.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it would mount a “significant” security operation and had been liaising with anti-monarchy group Republic, which kicked off protests at the event.

The force said it had banned “amplified sound” in and around the parade route on public safety grounds and to avoid disruption to the mounted regiments taking part.

Republic’s activists, who huddled on a section of The Mall alongside royalists, held aloft placards bearing slogans including “not my king” and “down with the crown”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)