Princess Charlotte posed for a portrait taken by her mother, Princess Kate Middleton, to celebrate her 9th birthday. The picture was shared on social media by Kate and Prince William, breaking the tradition of sharing birthday snaps at midnight. This tradition had been followed in previous years, including 2023 when Charlotte was photographed from above. Recently, Prince Louis also had a portrait taken by Kate for his 6th birthday, which was shared with a caption thanking everyone for the kind wishes.
There have been changes to royal traditions due to the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis, which was announced in March after a planned abdominal surgery. Kate and William took time to process the information before telling their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. They waited until the children were off school for the Easter break before sharing the news with the world, in order to give the children time to understand and to process the news.
In a video statement, Kate expressed that the diagnosis had been a huge shock and that it had taken time for her to recover from surgery and start treatment. She emphasized the importance of explaining everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in an appropriate way, and reassuring them that she would be okay. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III had also been diagnosed with cancer, adding stress to the Duke of Cambridge. William feels a sense of duty to uphold the monarchy’s stability and inspire confidence in the public during this challenging time.
The source also mentioned that William has been feeling immense responsibility during this difficult period, as he strives to maintain the monarchy’s stability and reassure the public that everything will be okay. The changes in royal traditions such as the timing of sharing birthday portraits are reflective of the personal challenges facing the royal family. Despite the challenges and changes, Kate and William have been transparent about the situation and ensuring that their children understand and feel reassured during this time of uncertainty. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis continue to be celebrated on their birthdays, marking another year of growth and happiness even amidst the family’s struggles.
