Kate Middleton Shares Rare, Whimsical Photo of Prince William With Their Three Kids for His Birthday

Prince William turned 42 on Friday, and Kate Middleton shared a never-before-seen photo.

Prince William is leaping into 42 with his kids by his side! Kate Middleton celebrated her husband's birthday on Friday by sharing a sweet and candid photo of the Prince of Wales with the couple's three children. 

"Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx," the Princess of Wales captioned the image. 

In the photo, William, who is barefoot in pink shorts and a navy hoodie sweatshirt, is seen leaping through the air on the beach while holding his children's hands. 

Princess Charlotte, 9, Prince Louis, 6, and Prince George 10, all look joyful as they join their father mid-jump. 

Kate is known for snapping family photos and annual portraits to mark birthdays and special occasions, but it's rare to see an action shot like this featured on the royals' social media. 

On Sunday, Kate shared another beach pic of William with their kids in different outfits in honor of American Father's Day. The group was pictured with their arms around each other, facing away from the camera and looking toward the water. 

"We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day 💕 G, C & L," the caption read. 

It has been a challenging year for the family as Kate went public in March about her cancer diagnosis, calling the news a "huge shock." 

The 42-year-old Princess of Wales has mostly stayed out of the spotlight as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy, but she did attend the annual Trooping the Colour in London earlier this month.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on the balcony during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024 in London, England. - Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on the balcony during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024 in London, England. - Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

The mother of three was all smiles at the event in a white dress and matching hat with black-and-white ribbon accents. It marked her first public event since December 2023. 

"I think a day like Saturday, where she knows the eyes of the world are on her, there is a huge amount of scrutiny that will take its toll," royal expert Katie Nicholl previously told ET of Kate's Trooping the Colour appearance. "I think we can probably imagine that she probably had a long and well deserved rest afterwards. I don't think we can expect to see her in public for a little while. That's going to take some recovery from."

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