Prince William Celebrates His 42nd Birthday Jumping For Joy With Three Kids In Photo Taken By Cancer-Stricken Kate Middleton

Westminster Abbey, the iconic London landmark, rang its bells to commemorate the 42nd birthday of the Prince of Wales, Prince William, on June 21, 2024. 

This ceremonial gesture spotlights the continued significance of the royal family’s milestones within the fabric of British national heritage.

The Abbey is renowned for its bell-ringing rituals and has a long history of honoring the birthdays of numerous royal family members. However, this practice shifted in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to financial constraints and a reduction in the number of royals granted this distinguished recognition.

Prior to 2020, the Abbey’s bells marked the birthdays of 12 royal individuals, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their four children—the (now) King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The list also encompassed Charles’ wife, Camilla, as well as Prince William, Princess Kate and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Following Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, the Abbey’s bell-ringing schedule underwent further revisions. The honor is now reserved solely for King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate. This streamlined approach reflects the evolved dynamics within the royal family.

Despite these adjustments, the Abbey’s decision to commemorate Prince William’s birthday with the ringing of its iconic bells demonstrates the continued significance of the tradition. The future monarch, who married Kate Middleton at the Abbey in 2011, received an outpouring of well-wishes from the many charitable organizations he supports and from his own family.

The royal family’s official social media channels, which include Instagram and X, shared a nostalgic photograph of Prince William and his father, King Charles. Prince and Princess of Wales unveiled a photo, captured by Kate, who is currently being treated for cancer, which featured William and their three children – Charlotte, Louis and George – joyfully mid-leap.

In February 2024, Prince William broke his hiatus from public appearances and appeared in a shot with Tom Cruise at a charity gala dinner. Later in February, he seemed to chat with the honorees at the BAFTA Film Awards.