Royal family LIVE: Princess Kate celebrates her 44th birthday and more

It's a very special day today as the Princess of Wales celebrates her 44th birthday.

While Kate is expected to mark her day privately, we'll be bringing you all of the well-wishes and tributes as they come in.

Stay tuned!

The Princess of Wales celebrated her birthday by posting a moving new video on her Instagram account. The stunning visual showed the wife of Prince William reflecting on the importance of nature in her life and how it has helped her heal.

Alongside the outdoor-led video, she penned: "The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing."

Signing off the post, she added: "There is so much we can learn from Mother Nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C."

For more on Kate's birthday video, check out online royal correspondent Danielle Stacey's article here

On Friday, 9 January, the Princess of Wales celebrated her 44th birthday. The royal shared a moving video message in celebration, penning how nature is at the forefront of her life in a detailed caption.

King Charles and Queen Camilla took to the Royal Family Instagram account, sharing a stunning past picture of Prince William's wife smiling at the camera. The message read:

"Wishing a Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales!"

Philippe Junot, a Parisian businessman and the first husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, has died at the age of 85. He passed away peacefully in Madrid on January 8, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Taking to Instagram to confirm the sad news, his daughter, Victoria Junot, confirmed the passing and penned a moving tribute to her parent, describing him as a "legendary" father and a gentleman who lived a beautiful and adventurous life. 

Junot was married to Princess Caroline in 1978 before their 1980 divorce.

To read more, take a look at HELLO!'s online royal correspondent Danielle Stacey's article here.

Meghan Markle took to Instagram on Thursday evening to show her followers that she was enjoying the slowness of January. 

In a carousel of pictures that featured on the Instagram account of her brand, As Ever,  Prince Harry's wife can be seen flower arranging, wearing a buttermilk-toned jumper, with her raven hair slicked back and a look of contentment on her face. She wrote in the caption: "This is your sign to put the kettle on."

The Princess of Wales shared a new video on her 44th birthday, in which she explained how much the natural world and all its beauty have become a huge part of her life.

Her laid-back choice of clothing in the short film, which was shown on Instagram, mirrored the ethos of the video. Kate donned her 'Elfie' jacket by Barbour, which was part of the Alexa Chung collaboration from 2019, and her Penelope Chilvers tasselled boots in 'Conker', which she first wore when she was at St Andrews University in 2001.

Also seen tucked into her neckline was a double-sided pashmina scarf that Catherine wore in March 2007, before she went on to marry Prince William.

This was identified by popular royal style account katemiddletonstyled, which documents where the royal's outfits are from.

On 8 January, the Princess of Wales opted for a burgundy look as she made a surprise appearance at Charing Cross Hospital in west London to highlight the work of NHS staff and volunteers.

According to the Court Circular, the Duchess of Edinburgh quietly resumed her royal duties on Thursday as she visited the new premises of her patronage, The Lighthouse in Woking, which provides several services to help the local community.

Sophie last visited the establishment in December 2025. Check out HELLO!'s Online Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey's article here for all the details.

It's been a pure delight to chat about all things royal as they happen this morning! I now pass the baton over to Matthew, who will be with you this afternoon.

Before Matt logs on, I just wanted to flag a new post that's dropped over on The HELLO! Royal Club. 

Written by royal author Robert Jobson, the post is a deep-dive into how birthday girl Princess Kate is preparing her three young children for life in the spotlight and their future royal roles.

Robert talks about the "monkey method" and much more. Intrigued? Sign up to the Club to read the post.

While schools across the UK have been shut due to snow, it's business as usual for the Norwegian royals. On Friday, King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon held the inaugural council of state of 2026.

Alongside her visit to the Lightouse in Woking, the Duchess of Edinburgh has returned to work with a first-person piece in The Daily Telegraph. The royal, who is known for her humanitarian work urged people not to forget the ongoing war in Sudan. Read more about her piece here...

There's nothing like seeing a royal lady wearing a glamorous tiara, and we now know when Denmark's Queen Mary will next be making an outing in the headpiece. Click here to find out more.

As she turns 44, the Princess of Wales has officially entered mid-life. Our Second Act editor, Isabel Mohan, explores what that means here...

Pippa Middleton has worn plenty of stunning looks over the years, and our Fashion and Beauty editor, Laura Sutcliffe, has delved into the archives to resurrect this stylish ensemble that would be perfect at a birthday party. Check it out here!

The late Duke of Edinburgh was known for his sense of humour, and it's now emerged that the royal had his own way of testing to make sure royal staff were undertaking their duties. Click here to learn about Philip's secret test...

Queen Rania is regularly one of fashion go-tos, and the Jordanian royal really impressed with her latest look. Get all the info here!

A very happy birthday to the Princess of Wales! 

Katherine is celebrating her 44th birthday on January 9, 2026, and if you're looking for a new birthday patry outfit for 2026, do we have the pick for you: A dress from 2017 that the royal has only ever worn once.

A stunning crimson gown by Marchesa Notte, the high-end American womenswear brand, which is known for luxurious gowns inspired by the Italian fashion icon Marchesa Luisa Casati. 

Read more of our feature here.

"The Princess of Wales spawned the Kate effect from the moment she became engaged to Prince William,” says HELLO!'s online royal correspondent Danielle Stacey of the impact the royal has had on fashion over the last decade..

“And while she has access to some of the best designers and fashion houses, her penchant for mixing high-end with the high street has made her a relatable style icon." 

Read more of our feature on Kate's best looks, on her 44th birthday, here.

I am obsessed with Queen Rania of Jordan's look for her Wednesday visit to Wadi Rum, where she met with local tour operators and explored the site.

I was lucky enough to visit Wadi Rum in 2017 and can hands down say it is one of the most stunning locations in the world - it is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan with dramatic sandstone mountains and natural arches.

Read our full report here.

Here's a throwback: Seven years ago in 2019 Prince William attended a royal engagement at the Royal London Hospital to mark the 30th anniversary of London's Air Ambulance Charity.