PRINCESS Kate’s photo for Prince William’s birthday proves they’re going from strength to strength, says a royal photographer.
It comes after a snap of the next-in-line with his kids on a beach was shared on social media to mark his 42nd birthday today.
Arthur Edwards, who has been covering the Firm for the Sun since 1977, has snapped seven royal weddings, four funerals and seven births.
He has seen the Prince of Wales develop from a shy schoolboy to a strong future king, as well as his relationship with Kate, from a blossoming university courtship to marriage and parenthood.
Arthur took some of the last pictures of Kate before her hiatus from duties at Christmas and was among the togs covering her return last Saturday at Trooping the Colour.
Amateur photographer Kate, also 42, took the picture of kids George, Charlotte and Louis with their dad, showing them jumping into the air at the beach.
She also took a similar picture at the same beach for Father’s Day last week.
Describing the latest photo, Arthur said it shows not only are the Wales family a strong unit, but William and Kate’s marriage and role in society is as strong as ever.
He said: “By the looks of things, it’s going from strength to strength. And, as this photo shows, the future of the Royal Family is in safe hands.
“You know if you’ve got a smiling and happy family every time you take a picture you’ve got a lovely happy family.”
He continued: “Catherine has turned into a super photographer. That’s a difficult picture to do at the best of times.
“You might be able to get it all right, but she’s got it just perfect. The children are all loving it and, most of all, so is the birthday boy himself.
“For Prince William, family is everything and this has shown that.
“In spite of Catherine not being too well at the moment, she’s still managing to press the button at the right time, because that picture is fantastic.”
Saturday’s Trooping the Colour saw Kate with her children on The Mall and then on Buckingham Palace balcony with William and the other royals.
Arthur said: “I don’t know if they purposely put her next to the King but you know both of them have been suffering this terrible illness, and both of them look like they’re beating it and getting fit and well again.
“Cancer is an illness that can knock you back, but she has good days and bad days. When she took that picture she was certainly having a great day.”
He went on to say, that it’s “quite clear” Kate is “becoming and has become this absolutely enormous star” for the Royal Family.
“She is the hot ticket for royal fans and observers and commentators alike,” Arthur added.
“Everything she does captures huge interest and there seems to be huge positivity around her and around Prince William.
“They are the future, aren’t they? This is the Prince and Princess of Wales, and they’ll be the King and the Queen.”
He continued: “She is a star and she gives everything to it. She’s a mother, she has staff to help with that, but she’s got the public appearances, she’s involved in numerous charities and she cares about them and when she does things she gets involved in them.
“This lady was almost born for the role. She was a commoner, and she met the Prince at university and they got married.”
Arthur recalled speaking to William on the day he got engaged to his future wife.
He told the photographer: “I want this marriage to last forever.”
Arthur said: “By the looks of things, it’s going from strength to strength. And, as this photo shows, the future of the Royal Family is in safe hands.”
He went on to say that in a lot of ways, William’s “main role” is to train oldest son George, 10, for his future role as King.
“He’s shy like his father was when he was that age. I remember him clearly, being very anti photographers and anti pictures and everything,” he explained.
“But it’ll help that Catherine, as George’s mum, is there with the camera, saying come on, let’s do it again. I bet we can do it a few more times and get it right. And they did.”
Arthur said, it is testament to William and Kate that they have protected their kids so well, despite the little ones “dominating the news agenda”.
“There was Louis during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee almost usurping the Queen. He almost became the star of the show,” he said.
Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery
JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside
JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week
JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital
FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor
Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior
Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis
April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos
June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel’s Review but letter she penned to Irish Guards reveals she said: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon”
June 14: Kate attended Trooping the Colour alongside her family
July 14: Kate attended the Wimbledon Men’s Final with Princess Charlotte
“And there was Charlotte a few years ago in the Isle of Wight poking her tongue out at the photographers.
“They certainly behave when they need to but these are children, we shouldn’t be troubling them with any problems or any stress.
“The role they’ve got to play is ahead in life at the moment. They’ve just got to be kept normal.”
He said playing on the beach and going to school, as well as doing homework every night will help with that normalcy “until their time”.
“Of course, William and Catherine protect them from intrusion,” Arthur emphasised.
“The paparazzi never bother with them anymore because they can’t get pictures of them.
“Instead, their mum shares pictures of them with us, with the world. Good on you, Catherine, and William, of course.”
He said William has shown such strength while Kate has been “out of action”, having begun cancer treatment in February.
“He’s done brilliantly, but getting some downtime like that is a breath of fresh air,” he explained.
“William always said he wanted to be there at night to read to the kids before they go to bed. He wants to be part of the family.
“He doesn’t want to be an absentee father always working. He puts the time in with them.”
Referring back to the photo, Arthur added of Kate: “I don’t believe anyone else would have got that picture other than her.
“I don’t think anyone else could have taken a family picture like that except the mother and my God, she is so talented, and that is a beautiful shot.”
