The Prince of Wales is the “best Papa in the world”, his wife and children have said as they marked his 44th birthday on Father’s Day. Kensington Palace released a photograph of William in his Welsh Guards dress uniform, his arm around his 11‑year‑old daughter Princess Charlotte, taken in the garden of Kensington Palace after last weekend’s Trooping the Colour.
The caption, signed by Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their three children, read: “Happy birthday and Father’s Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much. C, G, C & L.” The picture was taken by Matt Porteous, one of the family’s preferred photographers.
“Prince William turns 44; wife and children call him 'best papa' as royals share Father's Day messages.”
King Charles also joined the birthday wishes, posting on the official Royal Family Instagram account a black‑and‑white image of himself as a young man in RAF dress uniform standing beside his father, the late Prince Philip. “Celebrating all fathers, and thinking of those who wish they could be with their dads, today,” the message read.
Across the Atlantic, the Duchess of Sussex marked Father’s Day with a photograph of Prince Harry embracing their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. “They’re so lucky to have you. We all are. Happy Father’s Day to our one and only,” Meghan wrote on Instagram. Archie was pictured wearing an England World Cup shirt.
The warm messages came as William enjoyed a private birthday celebration at home. Earlier this week he was joined by Catherine at Royal Ascot for the first time since 2023 – she had been absent after being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024 and undergoing successful chemotherapy. The couple also attended Monday’s Garter Day at Windsor Castle.
Prince George, 12, will begin at Eton College in September, following in his father’s footsteps. William has spoken of fatherhood as “life‑changing” and “emotional”, saying: “You realise how precious life is and it puts it all in perspective.”
The birthday and Father’s Day tributes came ahead of a visit to the UK by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are expected to bring Archie and Lilibet for the first time in four years. They have been offered a royal residence as accommodation, in a sign of thawing relations. The King last saw his grandchildren during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022; whether a face‑to‑face meeting will take place remains unclear.