THE Princess of Wales will celebrate her 43rd birthday surrounded by family today — as she prepares for a “gradual return” to royal duties.
She will mark her special day in Windsor with hubby Prince William, 42, and their children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis.
In the past 12 months Kate has been largely out of the public eye after having abdominal surgery last January followed by treatment for cancer.
She gradually returned to public events towards the end of the year, including hosting her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
And that gradual return continues in 2025 — although fans have been warned not to expect Kate to be “rushing back to the same volume of work” as before.
It is also understood tours abroad are “not on the table”, despite Prince William last year saying they might “have some more trips lined up”.
Instead, Kate’s “primary focus” will be her Centre for Early Childhood and UK-based engagements. She is expected to be seen “up and down the country” this year.
She will also support the Royal Family at events such as Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot and the Remembrance Day commemorations.
A source said: “There is no huge reset button on her work and if you look to the back end of 2024 there was a gradual return of the Princess of Wales into more public engagements.
“That gradual return will continue into 2025 and it was an extremely warm and wonderful bookend to 2024 to see her at the carol service, and she continues that gradual return.”
Kensington Palace is working on her 2025 programme, which “balances work, being a mum and supporting her wider family” and public-facing engagements will continue this year.
A source said: “It would be wonderful to see the Princess of Wales up and down the country and this year I’m sure that will be the case.”
Since her health scare, Kate has only been on public engagements in London, including Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday, her carol concert, Wimbledon tennis and the Qatari State Visit.
But she did join William to meet emergency service heroes in Southport after three little girls were stabbed to death there in July.
Meanwhile, Prince William is expected to travel abroad for official royal engagements and will also take his annual £50million Earthshot Prize to another corner of the globe in the autumn.
TICKETS to tour the King’s Balmoral castle all-but sold out last night — despite it being more expensive than last year.
Yesterday, few tickets remained for the room tour, priced at £110 up from £100.
There were only a handful remaining for the tour with tea, which increased in price to £170, from £150. General admission to the Scottish estate is up £1 to £18.50.
The tickets went on general sale yesterday evening and were quickly snapped up. An expedition tour of the estate will also be available from April 1 until August 10 at £360 for a maximum of six guests.
It costs £3million a year to run Balmoral — with half of that from tourist revenues.
