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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lorraine King

Royals share sweet Kate Middleton birthday picture with hidden tribute to her children

The royal family has shared a photo of Kate Middleton wearing a sweet necklace tribute to her three children to mark her 39th birthday today.

The image was posted on the Clarence House Instagram page with the message: "Happy Birthday to The Duchess of Cambridge!"

The photo was taken last September when Kate met donned the gold necklace from All The Falling Stars, as she met parents in a Battersea Park, south London.

The necklace is engraved with the letters 'G, L, C' in honour of Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Prince Louis.

On the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Instagram account an image of Kate wearing a floral face mask and waving was posted as a birthday tribute.

The photo was taken last September (PA)

The post was captioned: "Thank you for your kind wishes on The Duchess’ birthday.

"Birthdays have been very different in recent months, and our thoughts continue to be with all those working on the front line at this hugely challenging time."

Kate is believed to be with her family at their Norfolk home of Anmer Hall, where the Cambridges spent Christmas after the Queen decided to have a quiet festive period at Windsor Castle.

The necklace is engraved with the letters 'G, L, C' (PA)
Kate met with parents in Battersea Park last September (PA)

Due to the lockdown her birthday is likely to be very low key with her spending the special day with Prince William and their three children.

The Cambridges have been forced to turn to video calls to carry out virtual engagements when restrictions were in place but they have done face-to-face when permitted.

In November, the duchess said she was "humbled" more than half-a-million people took part in her landmark research on the issue of early years.

The study was the largest of its kind in the UK on perceptions of early childhood - which found only one in four people recognised the key importance of the first five years of a child's life.

Kate will celebrate her birthday privately with her family (PA)
The Cambridges have done face-to-face when permitted (PA)

In December the Cambridges spent three days touring the country by royal train thanking frontline and key workers for their efforts during the pandemic.

However the trip provoked veiled criticisms from Welsh and Scottish ministers who raised questions about the timing of the visit while coronavirus cases were still prevalent.

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading (UK Press via Getty Images)
She was cruelly dubbed "Waity Katie" for her patience during their long courtship (PA)

In a lighter moment Kate, William and their children made a rare public appearance as a family when they went to a London theatre to watch a pantomime staged for key workers in the run-up to Christmas.

And the Cambridges and their children were pictured a number of times taking part in the weekly clap for carers tribute during the first national lockdown.

Kate has carried out some royal engagements face to face (PA)
The Cambridges and their children (Matt Porteous/REX/Shutterstock)

Last year's Kate's 38 birthday was overshadowed when the day before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their bombshell news they were quitting the royal family and would become financially independent - something they have achieved.

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to Carole and Michael Middleton at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on January 9, 1982.

Last year's Kate's 38 birthday was overshadowed (PA)

She was christened at the parish church of St Andrew's Bradfield in Berkshire on June 20, 1982 - the day before Prince William was born.

In the mid 1980s the Middletons lived in Amman in Jordan before they return to Berkshire.

At the age of 13, she went to the exclusive, private Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she part-boarded.

She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in history of art from St Andrews University, where she met and began dating William, whom she married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

She was cruelly dubbed "Waity Katie" for her patience during their long courtship, and was described by William in their engagement interview as having "a really naughty sense of humour".

Kate - now an HRH and a future Queen consort - is patron of 19 charities and organisations, and has focused her charity work on helping children have the best possible start in life, particularly surrounding their mental health.

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