A BIRTHDAY FIT FOR A PRINCESS

We wish the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday after the difficult year she's had – and hope that the next is happier and healthier

- REBECCA RUSSELL

A new year always brings with it a renewed sense of hope and if there is one person who will be eagerly looking forward to a fresh start, it's the Princess of Wales. After what has been the most difficult 12 months of her life, Kate has cause for celebration in the coming days as she will mark her 43rd birthday on 9 January.

"This birthday is going to be memorable in so many ways - it will mark the start of a new and hopefully happier year, and the end of one that has been brutal for the whole family," former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK!. "While some women might find the prospect of turning 43 a bit daunting, Catherine will, I am sure, be delighted that she is able to enjoy her birthday in comparatively good health, though of course she is still recovering. Every day must now be extra precious for the princess and every birthday a cause for grateful celebration."

With her special day coming so soon after Christmas, the princess’s birthday is usually a low-key affair, spent with William and their children. However, it’s possible there will be a bigger gathering this time around after last year was marred by her health issues and previous years coincided with bombshells from brother and sister-in-law Harry and Meghan.

“I’m sure Catherine’s new perspective on everything will include her own birthday,” Jennie tells us. “As a healthy young woman, her forties would normally have held no fear for her. But her past few birthdays have all been rather overshadowed by events – Harry and Meghan announcing they were stepping back from royal duties on 8 January 2020, then Harry releasing his book, Spare, on 10 January 2023.