Kate Shares Sweet Snap of William with Their Newest Additions—All to Celebrate His 43rd Birthday

Prince William marked his 43rd birthday on June 21 with heartfelt tributes from his wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children.

On Saturday, Princess Kate, also 43, posted a joyful snapshot to Instagram showing William surrounded by the family’s puppies, accompanied by a loving message from herself and their children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

“Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies! 🐾” the caption read. The photo, taken by Kate earlier this month, also featured Orla, the family’s beloved dog.

According to The Sun, Orla recently gave birth to a litter of puppies, much to the family’s delight. “Everyone adores the arrival of new royal babies—and royal puppies are almost just as exciting,” a royal insider told the outlet.

Orla joined the family in 2020, gifted by Kate’s brother James Middleton after his dog Luna had six puppies.

King Charles also honored his eldest son’s birthday with a sweet tribute on Instagram Stories. The post featured a serene photo of Prince William in a field, with the message: “Happy birthday to the Prince of Wales!”

The birthday wishes came just days after the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children shared a touching Father’s Day message on June 15. The post included a set of before-and-after photos of William and his kids enjoying playful moments under a tree. The first image showed them standing together, while the second caught them collapsing into laughter as the kids tumbled onto their dad.

“Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L 💖,” the caption read.

Photographer Josh Shinner, who previously worked with the Princess of Wales, captured the photos, which appear to have been taken on the same day as Prince Louis’ 7th birthday portraits.

These social media updates arrived at the close of a very active period for the royal family. On June 14, they took part in Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of the King’s birthday. Two days later, on June 16, Garter Day was held at Windsor Castle, where Princess Kate was seen watching Prince William take part in the procession and later joined him in a carriage.

The royal calendar continued with the multi-day Royal Ascot horse races, concluding on June 21. Although Princess Kate was expected to join Prince William on June 19, she ultimately did not attend, as she is still carefully navigating her return to public life following cancer treatment.

“She’s being wise about it—listening to her body and gradually easing back into her royal duties,” said Ailsa Anderson, a former spokeswoman for Queen Elizabeth, in PEOPLE’s latest cover story.

Earlier this week, on June 19, Prince William partnered with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett for a visit to one of the Earthshot Prize finalists. Together, they spotlighted sustainable fashion innovations, particularly eco-friendly dyeing techniques that use less water and eliminate harmful chemicals.