This Father’s Day, Prince William was the center of a touching tribute shared by his children.
On Sunday, June 15, Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7) posted a sweet message dedicated to their dad on the official Instagram account of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Capturing a Candid Family Moment
The post featured two heartwarming photographs. In the first image, Prince William is seen smiling with his arms around his three children as they pose beneath what looks like a cherry blossom tree. The second image captures a more playful scene—George, Charlotte, and Louis lying on top of their father as they all relax on the grass.
The caption read:
“Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L.”
Photographer Josh Shinner, who has previously photographed Princess Kate, was credited in the post. The images appear to have been taken during the same session as Prince Louis’s 7th birthday portraits.
Following a Public Family Outing
The Father’s Day tribute came just one day after the royal family appeared at Trooping the Colour, the annual parade held in honor of the monarch’s official birthday.
The event was a major family moment, marking the second public appearance of the year for Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children. Their first was in May, when the children made a surprise appearance at the national commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Prince William and Princess Kate have made it a priority to give their children a grounded and relatively normal upbringing, balancing royal responsibilities with school and home life.
“Those children look pretty happy with life,” a royal source told PEOPLE. “A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings — and that’s how she grew up. William absolutely loves it.”
A Challenging Year for the Royal Family
The past year has brought unprecedented challenges for the Wales family. In 2024, both King Charles and Princess Kate revealed they were undergoing treatment for cancer.
In a rare and candid interview during his Earthshot Prize visit to Cape Town, South Africa, in November, Prince William described 2024 as the most difficult year of his life.
“It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” he said, adding that trying to keep everything moving forward has been extremely tough.
Despite the hardships, Prince William expressed admiration for how his wife and father have handled their diagnoses.
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal,” he shared.
This touching Father’s Day post serves as a reminder of the strength and love within the royal family as they continue navigating a year filled with both trials and treasured moments.