The Princess of Wales celebrates her birthday on Jan. 9, as the royal family prepares for a busy new year

Kate Middleton.Credit : Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Kate Middleton has a birthday this week, and she’ll certainly be celebrated in regal fashion.

The Princess of Wales turns 44 on Jan. 9, and she will likely kick off her new year with some family festivities. Former royal butler Grant Harrold recently spoke with Heart Bingo about how the royals celebrate their birthdays, giving some hints as to how Princess Kate may be feted.

For one, Harrold predicted “more of an intimate family dinner” than any kind of large-scale party. Despite their high-profile titles, Princess Kate and Prince William are known to enjoy low-key time with their family, especially their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

“All royal birthdays are celebrated in some shape and form, even if the birthdays aren’t big celebrations,” Harrold said. “When I worked for the King, he would certainly have a private dinner. It wouldn’t be a big family gathering, it’d just be a private dinner.”

“I can almost guarantee that the King will still host a birthday party for his daughter-in-law. It’s possible that it will be on the actual day of the birthday, unless William’s got something private arranged,” he continued. “There’ll be a celebration, and food-wise, she will be eating some of the things that she likes.”

As for presents, Harrold notes the royals are known to be fond of a gag gift: “You might get something a little bit silly because the royals like to give silly presents.”

“There are a couple of options for presents from William,” he continued. “It could either be something jewellery-based, or it could be something that she needs for the home, or it could be a mixture of both.”

Home decor would be an appropriate gift as the Prince and Princess of Wales are currently settling into their new “forever home.” The family moved to Forest Lodge, a property in Windsor Great Park, in the fall of 2025, embracing a larger residence that will continue to be their home base even when William, 43, eventually becomes king.

During a state visit with the German president and first lady in December 2025, Princess Kate spoke enthusiastically about creating “mood boards” and starting the redecoration process after Christmas.

Harrold guessed that a more practical gift from William to Kate might be “followed up with a piece of jewelry or something quite personal. Maybe even a trip away because we know that they do like to have their time away as a couple as well.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton on July 8, 2025.Chris Jackson/Getty

As for King Charles and Queen Camilla, in addition to throwing Kate a small party or dinner, Harrold predicted the royal couple will give her a “joint gift.”

“It could be a hand-me-down from his mother. It could be something from his private collection of things that he likes to give family members… things that are sentimental to him,” he explained. “When he was Prince of Wales, he would give things that had the insignia on them, depending on who it was. It’s possible that he could do something like that. Or it might be something he’s advised from the Royal Collection, maybe something that’s a family heirloom that he’s allowed to pass on.”

“You’ve got to remember, family heirlooms — a lot of the items do personally belong to the King, but some of them are not personally owned by the King, but they’re in the Royal Collection. He could still give something that remains in the Royal Collection.

Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty

The biggest gift for both Kate and the King as the new year begins is continued good news about their health amid their respective cancer treatments.

The princess announced in January 2025 that she was in remission and reached a “turning point” in the months that followed as she became a large presence for the royals’ history-making state visits. Meanwhile, the King capped off the year with a positive health announcement of his own. The 77-year-old monarch appeared in a pre-recorded message ahead of Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer broadcast on Dec. 12, announcing that his “schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.”

William made a point to celebrate Kate’s resilience in his birthday message to his wife last year.

“To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable,” he captioned a black-and-white photo of her taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor the previous summer.

He added, “George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W.”