Kate Middleton’s 40th birthday celebrations are expected to be low key

It might be a big birthday, but the Duchess tends to focus on family over frivolities

Kate Middleton is hosting a carol concert and she's handwritten invites
Kate Middleton is hosting a carol concert and she's handwritten invites
(Image credit: 2021 Neil Mockford)

It might be a big birthday, but the Duchess tends to focus on family over frivolities

For many of us, a milestone birthday is the perfect excuse to plan an extravagant party or trip abroad. But when Kate Middleton turns 40 on January 9, she’s expected to enjoy much quieter celebrations. 

“Kate and William are not the sort to go away to celebrate on their own and leave the kids at home,” royal expert Duncan Larcombe told OK! Magazine“I think the same will apply to Kate’s birthday as it does to Christmas — it will be low key and it will be focused entirely on the family.”

Kate Middleton's Christmas outfit

At the beginning of Kate and William’s relationship, the couple saw birthdays as an opportunity for adventure. “Long before they got married and long before they had children, it wasn’t unknown for William to whisk Kate away for her birthday, usually to the ski slopes but once or twice to the Caribbean,” said Duncan.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“The first picture of the two of them kissing was taken when Kate was celebrating her birthday quietly with William at Klosters ski resort in Switzerland,” he continued. “But that was then and it’s just not Kate’s style to want to throw a lavish party for friends and family. I can’t see her going on any VIP trips to posh West End restaurants either.

“I think we can expect Kate to be deliberately modest, with no fuss and the emphasis firmly on her family.”

With their love of dressing up and dancing to Shakira, We’re sure that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will provide plenty of fun on the Duchess’ big day. 

Kate Hollowood
Kate Hollowood is a freelance journalist and writes about a range of topics for Marie Claire UK, from reports on royal news and current affairs to features on health, careers and relationships. Based in London, Kate has also written for titles like the i paper, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan and It’s Nice That.