Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, may hold the titles of Britain's future king and queen, but the couple's most important role is as parents to their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.
Kate spoke to the importance of family in a video message shared on Sept. 9, announcing that she had completed chemotherapy after sharing in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
"This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved," Kate said in the video, which showed intimate glimpses of Kate and William interacting with their kids.
When Kate returned to the public spotlight in a major way by hosting her annual "Royal Carols: Together at Christmas" service on Dec .6, at Westminster Abbey, George, Charlotte and Louis, as well as William, were all by her side.
The three siblings also joined their parents in June at Kate's first major public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis, Trooping the Colour, the annual military parade held to celebrate the king's official birthday.
William and Kate, who wed in 2011, became parents in 2013 with the birth of George.
"It's very emotional," Kate said when she and William left St. Mary's Hospital with George. "It's such a special time. I think any parent will know what this feeling feels like."
From George's birth on, the Waleses have made it a priority to keep their children at the center of their lives.
In a 2016 interview with the BBC, William spoke movingly about fatherhood and his desire to raise his children to be "good people."
"I’m concentrating very much on my role as a father," William said at the time. "I’m a new father and I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously and I want to bring my children up as good people with the idea of service and duty to others as very important."'
When William traveled to South Africa in November, he wore a beaded friendship bracelet featuring the word "Papa," the name he is called by George, Louis and Charlotte.
In a photo shared to mark William's 42nd birthday, George, Charlotte and Louis were seen jumping for joy with their dad.
In 2022, William and Kate moved their family from Kensington Palace, located in the heart of London, to Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, around 20 miles outside of the city.
There, George, Charlotte and Louis, the grandchildren of King Charles III, live a relatively quiet life, attending Lambrook School, a prep school for children ages 3-13, and spending plenty of time outdoors, something Kate has said she prioritizes for her children.
Kate, who turned 42 on Jan. 9, 2024, grew up in the village of Bucklebury, where she was raised by her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, alongside her younger siblings, Pippa Middleton and James Middleton.
"I had an amazing granny who devoted a lot of time to us, playing with us, doing arts and crafts and going to the greenhouse to do gardening, and cooking with us," Kate said in a 2020 podcast interview. "And I try and incorporate a lot of the experiences that she gave us at the time into the experiences that I give my children now."
She continued, "As children, we spent a lot of time outside and it’s something I’m really passionate about."
In the same interview, Kate opened up more about motherhood, describing herself as a "hands-on mum" who struggles with feeling mom guilt like so many others.
"There's such a pull," Kate said. "But I am such a hands-on mum, and whatever you're doing you want to make sure you're doing the uttermost best job you can for your children."
While William and Kate keep their children's lives as private as possible, the public has had more chances to see George, Charlotte and Louis as they've gotten older.
The siblings joined their parents for Christmas celebrations in 2023 and were seen smiling alongside each other in the family's annual Christmas photo.
Here is everything to know about William and Kate's three kids.
George, formally known as Prince George of Wales, was born on July 22, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in London.
George's full name is George Alexander Louis.
As the first-born child of Kate and William, the heir to the throne, George is second in line to the throne.
George made his first official foreign trip as a royal in his first year of life, when he joined his parents on their official three week tour of New Zealand and Australia in April 2014, according to the royal family's website.
MORE: George, Charlotte and Louis join Prince William, Princess Kate at Christmas carol serviceWith each passing year, George has attended more public events with his parents and started to step more into his role as future king.
In a 2016 interview with the BBC, William said, "They'll be a time and a place to bring George up and understand how he fits in the world, but right now it’s just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around him and showing him as much love as I can as a father."
At Charles' coronation, George was the only one of his siblings to play a role in the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, serving as one of four Pages of Honor for his grandfather.
When George turned 11, William and Kate marked his birthday by releasing a new photo of the prince, as they do annually for each child's birthday. The photo showed a smiling and grown up-looking George wearing a dark suit.
Outside of school, George is said to enjoy hobbies also beloved by his family members -- sports and art.
In April, William spent one-on-one time with George at an Aston Villa soccer game in Birmingham, England. A few months later, in July, the pair made a surprise appearance in Berlin to cheer on England against Spain at the 2024 UEFA European Championship final.
Charlotte, or Princess Charlotte of Wales, as she is formally known, was born on May 2, 2015, at the same hospital as her older brother, St. Mary's Hospital in London.
Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, a tribute to her great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandmother, the late Princess Diana.
When Charlotte attended the funeral for the queen in 2022, she paid tribute by wearing a diamond horseshoe brooch that was gifted to her by the queen, who had a great love for horses.
As William and Kate's second child, Charlotte is third in line to the throne, behind her father and older brother.
A few months before her first birthday, Charlotte joined William, Kate and George on a trip to the French Alps, their first vacation as a family of four, and the kids' first time playing in snow, according to the royal family's website.
A few months later, in September 2016, Charlotte joined her parents and brother again on another trip, this one being her first official royal trip. The family traveled to Canada, where Charlotte joined George in playing with kids from military families.
MORE: Prince William, Princess Kate share their family's Christmas card photoCharlotte has often been full of personality in the public eye, famously turning back to wave at photographers when William brought her and George to meet their newborn brother, Louis, in 2018.
In May, William and Kate released a photo of Charlotte to mark her ninth birthday. The photo shows a smiling Charlotte leaning against a flower-covered fence outdoors.
Louis, William and Kate's youngest child, was born on April 23, 2018, at the same hospital as his siblings, St. Mary's Hospital.
Known formally as Prince Louis of Wales, his full name is Louis Arthur Charles, a tribute to his grandfather, the king.
As William and Kate's third-born, Louis is fourth in line to the throne, behind his father and two older siblings.
Louis has quickly become known, and beloved, for stealing the show at royal family public events.
In 2022, Louis stood out alongside his great-grandmother, the late queen, as the royal family watched the Trooping the Color ceremony from the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Later on at the jubilee's Platinum Pageant, Louis put on a hilarious performance of facial expressions, waving and even at times screaming, prompting William and Kate to caption a video montage of the event, "We all had an incredible time, especially Louis…," followed by an emoji of watchful eyes.
Several months later, in May 2023, Louis had his turn in the spotlight again, dancing, waving and celebrating at Charles' coronation.
When Louis turned 6 in April, a newly released photo showed a smiling Louis, dressed in a plaid collared shirt, posing outside on a blanket.
