Kate Middleton and Prince William mark Valentine’s Day with candy message
The Prince and Princess of Wales have publicly marked Valentine’s Day for the first time ever with a sweet message.
Kate, 43, and William, 42, shared an adorable snap of themselves on X/Twitter and Instagram to mark the romantic holiday.
The photo, set against a stunning woodland backdrop, is taken from the Princess’s deeply emotive video released in September in which she announced she had completed chemotherapy.
It was filmed in the grounds of the Sandringham Estate during the summer, where the Prince and Princess recuperated as a family with their children George, 10, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six.
The photo was posted on the Prince and Princess’s social media accounts with a simple heart to mark the couple’s enduring love – especially after a ‘brutal’ year, in William’s own words.
The Prince described his horror year at the end of 2024 during a visit to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize, saying: ‘It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.’
It was an ‘annus horribilis’ for the Wales family as the Princess received preventative chemotherapy after cancerous cells had been discovered in her body during an abdominal operation in January 2024.
At the same time, it was revealed that William’s father King Charles was receiving cancer treatment.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have publicly marked Valentine’s Day for the first time with a sweet social media post
Since Kate has gone into remission, she is making a slow and steady return to public duties; and at times, the couple have revealed a more intimate glimpse into their deep affection for one another.
On Kate’s birthday in January, the Prince of Wales wrote a heartfelt, public message for his wife.
The message, a rare public declaration of love for the somewhat stoic and reserved public figures, read: ‘To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W.’
The message was shared with a previously unseen photo of Kate, taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer.
The black and white image shows the Princess relaxed at home, in jeans, a blazer and checked scarf.
She posed with her hands in her pocket – showing off her dazzling engagement ring – while wearing her hair in a gentle wave.
A personal message – and unseen photo – was also an unusual thing for the Royal Family to do for a non-major birthday.
In an unusually personal message, William praised his wife’s strength and added that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were ‘so proud of her’
Matt Porteous has taken pictures of William, Kate and their children dozens of times – as well as accompanying them on royal tours.
Speaking to the Mirror, royal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop said the candid post signalled a less stoic approach from the royals than we may be used to seeing in the past.
‘Statements don’t come much more powerful than that,’ she explained, highlighting the ardent and simple words in the caption, ‘We love you.’
‘Gone are the days when royally kept their distance and avoided overtly sentimental displays of affection,’ Dr Dunlop continued.
‘William is letting everyone know just how proud he is of his wife, and likewise what they have achieved together. Contrary to monarchy’s reputation in recent years, here is a functional family that can face down adversity together.’
The couple’s sweet Valentine’s Day post comes days after Prince William appeared in high spirits on his visit to London Screen Academy in Highbury, north London today.
Prince William, 42, who is President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), took to the creative centre to shine a spotlight on the next generation of UK filmmakers and creative professionals.
The LSA, established in 2019 and founded by industry experts, is a free-to-attend sixth form academy aiming to arm students with the necessary skills to thrive in the film industry across production, costume, editing, and animation sectors.
In addition to vocational skills, students also undertake standard qualifications, such as Maths or English A-Level’s, to ensure an integrated education approach.
Upon his arrival, William met senior representatives from the LSA and BAFTA board before chatting with students and observing their costume design work.
The heir to the throne, dressed in a smart navy suit, met Year 13 students taking part in a ‘Collaboration Project’, which blends craft, technical, and production skills to create and short film.
William heard about the shooting process of this year’s film, called ‘Melomania’, and learned about the skills implemented when completing the project.
He looked especially animated when meeting the hair and make-up teams, with the royal looking particularly moved after observing some frightening masks.
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales continued her gradual return to public life after cancer treatment with an official engagement at a mother and baby unit at a prison in Cheshire on February 11.
Kate made a solo appearance at the Mother and Baby Unit at HMP Styal in her capacity as patron of Action for Children where she highlighted the importance of consistent mother and baby relationships in a child’s development.
The Princess donned a brown ensemble for the visit, opting for her checked Blazé Milano coat layered over a roll neck wool dress and paired with suede boots.
She wore her thick brunette locks in curly tresses hanging down her shoulders, and slightly tucked behind her ears, while showing off a pair of sparkling stud earrings.
Kate chuckled as she was led through the gates into the prison by governor Nicky Hargreaves.
As she walked through the prison grounds dozens of women inmates leant out of the windows of their notable worn around the edges accommodation blocks to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor.
