Surrounded by his children all packed onto a wooden swing and playing a game of rough and tumble on the grass, Prince William wad all smiles as he posed for his wife Kate at their family home in Norfolk earlier this month.
The Duke of Cambridge celebrates his 38th birthday today which also happens to be Father’s Day. The candid family portraits, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge, were shot earlier this month in the grounds of Anmer Hall where the family have been staying during the lockdown.
Dressed-down in chinos and a sweater and perched on a swing, which was a wedding gift to the couple, William has a smiling Prince George standing up behind him, Princess Charlotte next to him—her arm flung around her father—and Prince Louis on his knee.
William’s is only the latest royal birthday to be celebrated during lockdown. The Queen and Prince Louis celebrated birthdays in April, Princess Charlotte celebrated her fifth birthday in May, while Prince Philip turned 99 earlier this month. For that occasion a royal photographer was summoned to capture the Duke for a rare portrait with the Queen, but William’s birthday snaps are far more informal and reveal him to be a doting family man.
Kate has been praised for her candid and intimate family pictures, and the charming images of a paint-covered Louis and Charlotte taking supplies to vulnerable people in the nearby area as part of their lockdown efforts are among some of her most memorable pictures.
The Cambridges have been working throughout the lockdown to support charities and schools around the country and carrying out voluntary work. William has also been on the end of the phone taking calls for their mental health charity Shout, supporting vulnerable people during the pandemic. While other senior royals, including Prince Charles, have returned to London, William and Kate have chosen to stay in Norfolk for the time being.
Princess Charlotte’s year is now back at school at Thomas’s Battersea, but because Prince George’s year has not returned, the Cambridges are continuing to homeschool their children. Aides are not commenting on their future plans or when they plan to return to Kensington Palace.
While Kate has spoken about the challenges of homeschooling she has told friends that the family has loved being in lockdown. “They have had so much special family time, the weather has been amazing and they have really enjoyed being together,” a friend told Vanity Fair.
As lockdown restrictions are slowly lifted it is not known whether the couple plan to stay in Norfolk for the summer holidays, which start in early July. However, both William and Kate are hoping to see their families. Kate revealed during a trip to a garden center this week that they have not seen anyone during the lockdown, but a family reunion could be in the cards this weekend. That might be the best present William could ask for.
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