Prince Harry and Meghan 'overshadowed Kate Middleton' – now she can celebrate

A new year always brings with it a renewed sense of hope and if there is one person who will be eagerly looking forward to a fresh start, it’s the Princess of Wales. After what has been the most difficult 12 months of her life, Catherine has cause for celebration in the coming days as she will mark her 43rd birthday on 9 January.

“This birthday is going to be memorable in so many ways – it will mark the start of a new and hopefully happier year, and the end of one that has been brutal for the whole family,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK! “While some women might find the prospect of turning 43 a bit daunting, Catherine will, I am sure, be delighted that she is able to enjoy her birthday in comparatively good health, though of course she is still recovering. Every day must now be extra precious for the Princess, and every birthday a cause for grateful celebration.”

With her special day coming so soon after Christmas, the Princess’ birthday is usually a low-key affair, spent with William and their children. However, it’s possible there will be a bigger gathering this time around after last year’s milestone was marred by her health issues and previous years coincided with Harry and Meghan bombshells.

“I’m sure Catherine’s new perspective on everything will include her own birthday,” Jennie tells us. “As a healthy young woman, her forties would normally have held no fear for her. But her past few birthdays have all been rather overshadowed by events: Harry and Meghan announcing they were stepping back from royal duties on 8 January, 2020, then Harry releasing his book, Spare, on 10 January, 2023.

“And this time last year, the Princess must have been anxious – and probably in pain – as she geared up for her planned abdominal surgery which took place a few days after her 42nd birthday. That, of course, was followed by the shock of her cancer diagnosis, so this will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate.”

While Prince William isn’t known for his overtly public displays of affection or romantic gestures, he makes no secret of his love for his wife – and will be able to indulge her on her big day.

“For her husband and children, this will be an excuse to spoil her rotten and, even though it falls on a school day, I’m sure that’s exactly what they’ll do,” Jennie says. “I imagine they will shower her with gifts – perhaps a collection of pampering products like luxurious bath oils and fabulously scented candles. Maybe William will buy her some silk pyjamas or cashmere jumpers – things that are soft on skin that has been bruised by surgery and treatment.

“He's probably got a little bit of romance in him somewhere, and even though he says he's not a very good cook, Catherine did tell Mary Berry that he’s quite good at breakfasts so maybe a tray complete with a rose will arrive early for her.”

And while the Prince and Princess have created a tight-knit cocoon at home with their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, there are other members of the family who have been there for the Princess through thick and thin and will surely relish the opportunity to ring in the next 12 months by her side.

“Her own little family and her parents and siblings will certainly all want to make a fuss of Catherine as she embarks on a new year,” the expert says as she refers to the steadfast support Carole and Michael Middleton have always given their daughter, as well as the comfort her sister Pippa and brother James have often provided.

“I think her ideal birthday would be a cosy celebration with her husband and children, so maybe William will have organised something delicious for a celebratory dinner at home. And I expect her mum will have baked a cake, perhaps with Charlotte joining in too.”

It is no secret though that throughout her recovery, it has been Prince William’s love and support which has meant everything to Catherine. This was made clear by the messaging on the cover of the programme for her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in early December.

Sitting below an illustration of a group of people with their arms around each other in a snowy scene was the question “How did I help?” before it was answered with “You were by my side, which was everything.”

“I think the illustration on the front of the programme told us how vulnerable she has felt this past year,” Jennie told us at the time. “Everyone’s cancer journey is different, but they share in common the fact that theirs is an individual journey and only they know how they truly feel.

“The words on the illustration that you helped simply by ‘being by my side’ are profound and poignant. Having her family by her side for the concert is bound to make her feel quite emotional and grateful for the support she’s had and the progress she’s made. But it also sends out a message to the families of all cancer sufferers: to be there as much as possible, offering quiet support. Because, as Catherine has said, this disease can make you feel vulnerable in a way you never have before.”

In a year which will see the couple celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary, there are big plans and many exciting milestones to look forward to. With the second anniversary of Shaping Us – a scheme focusing on the importance of early years development which the Princess has called her “life’s work” – coming up on 31 January, along with her mother Carole’s landmark 70th birthday on the same day, it will be a busy start to the year for the Princess.

Even though Catherine made a number of select appearances during 2024 – namely at Trooping the Colour in June and the Wimbledon Men’s Final in July – it’s likely she will make a more frequent return to public duty in the coming months, but still at a slower pace than before her cancer treatment.

“William has gone on record saying he hopes Catherine will be able to join him on a tour in the coming year and that will be a real milestone on her return to royal duties,” Jennie explains. “But after such a seismic shock in their lives, I don’t think Catherine will launch herself back into a heavy work schedule just yet. The road to full recovery, she has said, is long, and she’s not going to take any risks with her health after such a battle to get well again. So, I think we shall see more of her in 2025, but she will continue to do things at her own pace.”

While it is hoped the couple will be able to carry out important engagements in the Commonwealth and beyond in the new year, we will also have the opportunity to see William’s plans be turned into actions after he recently described how he sees his future role.

Speaking during his trip to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize in November, William spelled out his philosophy for trying to do things differently. After adding that he hoped to carry out overseas tours with Catherine, he was asked about his modern approach, saying: “It’s hard to describe what that is all about, but I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation. And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”

The modernising move has been praised by Jennie as she eagerly awaits the opportunity to see the Prince’s objectives materialise in the new year. “I think everyone will be curious to see how William’s plan pans out,” she says. “I rather hope it will mean an end to bowing and curtseying - and perhaps some informal guidance that it’s ok to call them William and Catherine rather than all that Your Royal Highness nonsense.

“Now that Catherine is well on the road to recovery, I think we’ll see William double down on his campaign to end homelessness and his work with the Earthshot Prize. I think his idea of being ‘royal with a small r’ entails sweeping aside the fuss that goes with him turning up somewhere, and just getting on with the business in hand. I also think the Government has twigged that William is a valuable national asset who can be deployed on diplomatic charm offensives, just like his meeting with Donald Trump in Paris.”

Another area of his role – and indeed a major part of the Princess of Wales’ focus – will be the vitally important part they play in gearing their children up for their futures. The couple’s approach to slowly introducing George, Charlotte and Louis to their royal roles with low-profile charity visits is an approach which Jennie feels is the key to their success.

“I think they’ll continue at a gentle pace when it comes to putting the children on display,” she says. “George, Charlotte and Louis will have a lifetime of parading in front of the cameras and facing public scrutiny. Now is the time for them to enjoy a tiny measure of something approaching a normal childhood, and I think William and Catherine are right to protect them as best they can. But I’m sure there will be occasions when we will see the family together with one or two low key appearances.”

Rather like Queen Elizabeth II was determined to put 1992 – or her Annus Horribilis – behind her, the Prince and Princess will no doubt be grateful to be bidding farewell to 2024. And, with Catherine dealing with the last year with such courage and grace, we hope her loved ones give her a birthday to remember.