Princess Kate commemorates her 43rd birthday today.

Following a “difficult” year marked by her cancer diagnosis and treatment, the British royal received heartfelt recognition from her husband, Prince William, who praised Kate’s “strength” in a genuine Instagram post on Thursday.

“To the most amazing wife and mother. Your resilience over the past year has been extraordinary,” William wrote alongside a black and white image of Kate on their shared account. “George, Charlotte, Louis, and I are incredibly proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We all love you.”

The image depicts Kate wearing a light button-up shirt, dark jeans, a shepherd’s check scarf, and a dark jacket.

In a rare moment of vulnerability during a Christmas concert in the UK last month, Kate spoke about her challenging year, saying, “I hadn’t anticipated that this year would be so trying,” as she spoke to Paloma Faith, one of the concert performers, in a video shared on X by Channel 5 news.

Due to public speculation regarding her absence from events, Kate was compelled to publicly disclose her cancer diagnosis. In March, she announced that she would begin preventative chemotherapy after undergoing abdominal surgery. Though her treatment concluded in September, Kate shared a video at the time, stating: “The journey to healing and full recovery is lengthy, and I need to approach each day as it comes.”

As she recovers, Kate has made more public appearances, including attending the Trooping the Colour parade, Wimbledon, church services, and her traditional Christmas carol service. At the latter event with her family, Kate discussed the theme of unity, reflecting on “our own vulnerabilities” during the holiday season and the importance of empathy.

She remarked, “When we take a break from our everyday pressures, it allows us to live with open hearts, filled with love, kindness, and forgiveness, which embodies the Christmas spirit.”

“The Christmas narrative nudges us to reflect on the feelings and experiences of others. It also sheds light on our own vulnerabilities and underscores the significance of empathy—giving and receiving—and how interconnected we are, despite our differences. Ultimately, it encourages us to choose love over fear.”