King Charles III leads birthday tributes for Catherine with unseen coronation image

Catherine, Princess of Wales celebrated her 42nd birthday in style as King Charles III shared a stunning, previously unpublished Coronation image of the future Queen.

King Charles III led birthday tributes to Catherine, Princess of Wales, with a previously unpublished Coronation photo of the future Queen.

The 42-year-old looked regal as she brushed shoulders with the newly-minted Monarch talking to Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

“Wishing the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday today!” the official royal family’s social media accounts shared.

Princess Catherine in a previously unseen image from the King’s Coronation. Picture: Instagram/@ChrisJack_Getty

Bells rang at Westminster Abbey to mark to occasion, with the Abbey posting a video of the occasion on social media.

“Our bell ringers are ringing 542 changes of Stedman Caters followed by a course of Sgurr A’Chaorachain Surprise Royal.”

The Abbey bells are ringing to celebrate the birthday of The Princess of Wales.

Our bell ringers are ringing 542 changes of Stedman Caters followed by a course of Sgurr A’Chaorachain Surprise Royal. #HappyBirthdayHRHpic.twitter.com/5j42284afB

— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) January 9, 2024

The Princess celebrated at her childhood home in Berkshire with Prince William and homemade gifts from her three children, plus a birthday cake made by her mother Carole, according to The Sun. The future, future King, Prince George, 10, made a handmade birthday card.

“Luckily the children don’t go back to school until the 10th, so the family can celebrate the last day of the Christmas holidays and Catherine’s birthday at the same time,” Royal expert Jennie Bond told Fabulous.

Kate will spend the birthday savouring having the children at school nearby after she was “heartbroken” over Prince William’s plan to send George to Eton College when he turns 13.

Catherine isn’t happy about the all-boys boarding school, according to an insider who told In Touch Weekly the Princess was “horribly bullied” at boarding school and can’t “bear the thought of George suffering through that”.

Prince George made a DIY birthday card for his mum, Princess Catherine. Picture: Getty Images)

Princess Catherine attended the all-girls boarding school Downe House before she later transferred to the coeducational Marlborough College, where she would prefer to send George.

“Kate thinks sending George to such a stuffy, upper-crust institution goes against all of their efforts to modernise the monarchy,” the source said.

“Kate long disagreed with her husband about sending him away, even though it’s tradition.”

Despite having “argued” endlessly, Princess Catherine “finally gave in” to agree to send George away to boarding school, the insider added.