Sunday, February 15, 2026

“IT WAS ONLY 12 WORDS — AND SHE COULDN’T HOLD BACK THE TEARS.”

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The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a snap taken in April last year on their Instagram

Kate Middleton and Prince William Celebrate Valentine's Day with New Message
Prince William and Princess Kate.Credit : The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram

Kate Middleton and Prince William are commemorating Valentine’s Day.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Prince and Princess of Wales marked the romantic holiday by sharing an unseen photograph taken in Anmer, Norfolk, last April. They previously used a snap from the session with photographer Josh Shinner for their 2025 Christmas card.

Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, are seen in the newly released image shared on Instagram smiling as they sit outdoors.

“Happy Valentine’s Day 💕,” they captioned the black and white photo.

The snap was also shared on their Instagram Stories, accompanied by two pink heart emojis.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Celebrate Valentine's Day with New Message
Prince William and Princess Kate.The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram

Back in 2025, Prince William and Princess Kate served a surprise on Valentine’s Day by posting a tribute nodding to the holiday for the first time ever.

The royal couple shared a shot of William kissing Kate on the cheek as they held hands and sat together on a blanket in the woods. The photo was simply captioned “❤️.”

The image was a still from the video announcement that Princess Kate released in September 2024, revealing that she had completed chemotherapy treatment. She had announced that she was undergoing treatment for cancer that March.

Kate’s September video was filmed in August 2024 by Will Warr in Norfolk, where the Prince and Princess of Wales have a country home called Anmer Hall. The couple’s three children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, also appeared in the montage, as did Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Prince William later reflected that 2024 had “probably been the hardest year in my life” as his wife and father, King Charles, both began treatment for cancer. The Princess of Wales shared in January 2025 that she is in remission while the King’s treatment continues into this year.

As Princess Kate resumed royal duties in 2025, she and Prince William seemed to be more tactile than ever, from holding hands to exchanging glances during their joint outings.

“They are happy for people to see them be touchy-feely,” royal expert and biographer Ingrid Seward exclusively told PEOPLE about their outlook now. “They’re in a different phase of their life now. William is very protective and very proud of her for coming through this and carrying on with her life.”

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales share a joke as they depart after a visit to the National Curling Academy on January 20, 2026 in Stirling, Scotland.
Prince William and Kate Middleton leave the National Curling Academy on Jan. 20, 2026 in Stirling, Scotland.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince William and Kate met while attending college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 2001 and were friends before their romance began. They started dating in 2002 and briefly broke up in 2007, before getting back together — for good.

The couple announced their engagement in November 2010 and revealed that William proposed with the iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring that originally belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana. On the inspiration for proposing to Kate with the family heirloom, William said of Diana, “Obviously, she’s not going be around to share in all the fun and excitement, so this is my way of keeping her close to it all.”

The couple married at Westminster Abbey in London in April 2011 and received the royal titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Queen Elizabeth. They went on to welcome three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and became the Prince and Princess of Wales upon King Charles’ accession to the throne in 2023.