Kensington Palace has shared a sweet photo to mark The Prince of Wales’ 43rd birthday – but it’s some other ‘royals’ who’s stolen the show.
The snap shows Prince William basically ignoring the camera as he plays with a bunch of puppies on the grass. The family dog Orla – the puppies’ mum – is walking off behind him, probably grateful for the free childcare.
‘Happy birthday!’ the caption reads, ‘Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!’ Those letters presumably stand for his wife Catherine, and kids George, Charlotte and Louis.
Needless to say, royal fans were as swept up in the sweet new pups as they were by the prince himself. ‘Happy birthday!’ one wrote, ‘And congratulations to Orla on the birth of her adorable pups!’
Another penned: ‘Happy birthday, Prince William! You are so loved. P.s. The puppies are too cute. Totally understand if you decide to keep them all :)’
Buckingham Palace, meanwhile, shared an entirely dog-free photo of William looking pensive while sat on a rock wall.
Meanwhile, in a surprise move on Wednesday, Catherine missed Royal Ascot for the second successive year as she seeks the right balance following her treatment for cancer.
Since announcing in January she is in remission, the princess has been gradually returning to public duties. Her appearances have increased in recent weeks, attending three high-profile events – Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service, and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London.
It is understood Kate is trying to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements that have featured an element of flexibility since her cancer diagnosis.
Kate’s written message, posted on social media ahead of the end of Children’s Hospice Week this weekend, said: “No parent expects to hear that their child has a serious health condition that could shorten their life.
“Sadly, this is the reality faced by thousands of families across the country, leaving them heart-broken, fearful of the future and often desperately isolated.”
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