It’s a double celebration for Guillermo on June 21st: his birthday and Father’s Day on the same day, right in the middle of a weekend packed with coincidences on the British calendar. But what really caught people’s attention wasn’t the date; it was the photo Kate chose to wish him a happy birthday. Only he and Charlotte are in the photo.
Neither George nor Louis. And in a family where every gesture is scrutinized down to the last detail, that didn’t go unnoticed.
Where did the photo Kate Middleton shared for William’s birthday come from?
The image isn’t entirely new, but it’s never been posted on social media before. It was taken last weekend during Trooping the Color, with the Prince of Wales in uniform and Charlotte wearing the same white dress she had on that day. Kate, George, and Louis were also present at the parade, but the chosen photo left them out of the frame.
The message accompanying the post read, “Happy birthday and Father’s Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much,” signed with the initials C, G, C, and L, even though only Charlotte appeared in the image.
Who took the photo of William and Charlotte?
The photo is by photographer Matt Porteous, who has been working with the Royal Family of Wales for years during their most important moments. And there’s another change worth noting. Kate used to take the family photos for these occasions herself; it’s something she’s always enjoyed, and it shows. But that custom has been a thing of the past for some time now, and it’s becoming increasingly common to see credits for professional photographers in these kinds of posts.
Porteous, for his part, also shared the image on his social media, visibly pleased that it was chosen for such a special day.
King Charles’ wishes to William
The King also made a gesture. The British royal family’s Instagram account shared a photo of Charles and William exchanging a knowing look during a public event, accompanied by a simple “Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!” An image that, unintentionally, ended up speaking to the present and future of the Crown in a single shot.
Charles also paid tribute to his own father, the Duke of Edinburgh, with a photo alongside him and the message “Celebrating all Fathers, and thinking of those who wish they could be with their Dads, today,” in keeping with Father’s Day, which the United Kingdom celebrated this Sunday.
