Catherine, Princess of Wales, marks her 43rd birthday on January 9, following a trying year in which she went public with her cancer diagnosis and went through chemotherapy treatments. In her rare public appearances, she often had her children by her side.
Kate and Prince William married in 2011 and have three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
The former Kate Middleton said of her cancer diagnosis in 2024, "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."
Kate and William became first-time parents in 2013, with the birth of George a little more than two years after the royal couple tied the knot. They later welcomed Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018.
Here's more about William and Kate's three children.
Prince George
In December 2012, after months of pregnancy rumors, the royal palace announced that Kate and William were expecting their first child. George is currently an heir to the throne, which had been occupied by the late Queen Elizabeth II and is now occupied by King Charles, with George's dad next in line.
Kate's pregnancy was tough — she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that can cause dehydration and other problems.
Prince George of Cambridge was born on July 22, 2013, an event celebrated with massive fanfare.
Kate gave birth at St. Mary’s Hospital in London — the same location that Diana, Princess of Wales, gave birth to William and Prince Harry — and gave the public a glimpse of her newborn hours after giving birth.
"(It's) very emotional," William told a reporter outside the hospital. Kate added, "Very emotional — it's such a special time. I think any parent can probably ... know what this feeling feels like."
Charles (then Prince Charles), who is married to Queen Camilla, also said in a statement at the time: “Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy. Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”
On July 24, 2013, Will and Kate announced their son's name: George Alexander Louis. He was christened on Oct. 23, 2013, at The Chapel Royal on the grounds of St James’s Palace.
George was still an infant when he accompanied his parents on a three-week royal tour of Australia and New Zealand, just like William did with his parents, Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1983.
During the tour, George played with a bilby (a type of marsupial), attended a playgroup in Wellington and received a "marriage proposal" from a 10-month-old who wore a "Marry Me George" onesie.
George has made various public appearances in the years since, including in April 2024, when he and William shared a bit of son-father bonding time.
The Prince of Wales and his oldest son enjoyed a day watching soccer on April 11, as they were photographed in the stands during the UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Princess Charlotte
In September 2014, William and Kate shared that they were expecting baby No. 2.
"We’re immensely thrilled, it’s great news, early days but I’m hoping that things settle down, she feels a bit better,” William told reporters, according to CNBC. “She’s feeling OK, it’s been a tricky few days, week or so. I’m going to go back and look after her now.”
Once again, Kate was struck with hyperemesis gravidarum, for which she was treated by doctors at her home in Kensington Palace.
At the time, Charles was thrilled to welcome a little girl. According to the BBC, he remarked to reporters, “It’s wonderful to be a grandfather again. I’m looking forward to it — but I hope it will be a girl this time.”
Charlotte, who is third in line to the throne, was born on May 2, 2015. She was introduced to the world in a similar ceremony outside St. Mary's.
The royal parents named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, with her middle name honoring William's mother, Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash. Charlotte's official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
Charlotte's first royal tour was in September 2016, when she and her big brother tagged along to Canada.
“My daughter Charlotte likes dancing, she loves ballet and tap," Kate told a little girl while making a royal stop in Yorkshire in 2023.
Charlotte also enjoys football and rugby, Kate said during "The Good, The Bad & The Rugby" podcast hosted by Mike Tindall, who is married to Zara Tindall, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
“Charlotte’s playing both the sports now, and it’s really good to see youngsters, particularly girls, playing these types of sports now,” Kate said, according to People magazine. Kate added that these “weren’t school sports when I was growing up.”
Prince Louis
Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born on April 23, 2018, and is fourth in line to the throne. The boy's royal title is His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.
Louis is known for his public antics. In December 2023, he was caught trying to blow out the candle his older sister was holding at a Christmas ceremony in Westminster Abbey. At his grandfather's coronation ceremony in May 2023, he made a series of funny faces (it was a two-hour ceremony!) and grinned at onlookers as the family traveled back to Buckingham Palace.
He showed his big personality in a fun photo shoot with his mom that the palace released for his 5th birthday.
More recently, Louis and his sister were twinning in England jerseys when England and Spain competed in the UEFA European Football Championship in Berlin in July 2024.
