The Queen and Prince Charles have led the birthday tributes to Prince William as he celebrates turning 40 today.
Both the Royal Family and Clarence House Instagram accounts posted sweet messages for the future king, with both sharing some cute throwback pictures of the second-in-line to the throne from throughout the years.
On the Royal Family account, the Queen's message to her grandson read: "Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Cambridge!"
It was followed by a party face emoji and it added: "Prince William Arthur Philip Louis is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales.
"He was born at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. A bulletin, placed on the gates of Buckingham Palace announced that he weighed 7lb 1 1/2 oz."
Among the pictures it shared was one of William giving a speech at the recent Party at the Palace for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Others include a snap of a very young William, one of him alongside the Queen during a military parade at Sandhurst, another showing her around a helicopter from when he worked for the air ambulance and a lovely picture of them together in Scotland last year.
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Meanwhile on Charles' Clarence House Instagram account, a message read: "Wishing The Duke of Cambridge a very happy 40th birthday!" It was followed with a cake and balloon emoji.
The first snap shared showed Charles cradling his son on the steps of the Lindo Wing shortly after this birth 40 years ago.
Other images include one of father and son on a skiing holiday when William was a child, one of them in military dress alongside Prince George and Camilla and a lovely photo of William and Charles taken by the Duchess of Cambridge to mark Father's Day several years ago.
The birthday messages come after it was revealed that William will will hold a joint 40th birthday bash with wife Kate after her own party plans were cancelled due to surging Covid rates.
He has been given the go ahead to throw the party at the Queen’s Windsor Castle home or Sandringham Estate later this summer after agreeing the couple should "celebrate their landmark birthdays in style", royal sources have revealed.
As well as senior royals including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, The Queen may attend William and Kate’s bash, in line with the royal tradition of celebrating decade milestones for senior members of the family.
However, the 96-year-old monarch, who has suffered from increasing mobility issues in recent months, will not confirm until the day of the party, one palace source confirmed.
Historically, the lavish bashes have been thrown together to celebrate several members of the family together.
One such extravagant royal party was held in June 2000 at Windsor Castle to celebrate Prince Andrew’s 40th birthday, Princess Anne’s 50th, Princess Margaret’s 70th and William’s 18th.
