Monday, January 9, marks the 41st birthday for the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. Although the mother of three usually likes to keep her big day low-key, this year she'll be ringing in the occasion in a public way, literally. She's gifted with a privilege few other royals get, making it more real than ever that she's going to be queen consort someday.
The bells at Westminster Abbey rang out in Kate's honor.
Many within London's City of Westminster likely heard the bells ring on Monday, marking a return to using the church to celebrate senior members of the royal family on their big day.
Just exactly for whom (and when) the bells toll has been a hot topic over the past few years as the palace has changed the rules around when they're used to celebrate and when they remain silent.
Kate didn't get the same musical treatment last year.
Despite celebrating her milestone 40th birthday in January 2022, there was no afternoon celebration for Kate. Instead, the palace had decided that it would only use the abbey's chimes on certain occasions.
"They will only do it for the birthday of the Queen and Prince Charles," royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti explained to Us Weekly at the time. "And that's apparently a cost-cutting idea. So, poor [Kate] won't even be getting those bells run out."
A lot has changed since then.
The September 8 death of Queen Elizabeth brought about massive changes for the royal family, including the line of succession. This earned Kate the new title of Princess of Wales, along with a more important role within the royal family.
It seems that shift is part of what enabled her and a handful of others to now have access to the musical tribute.
She'll share this honor with just three other royals.
According to the UK's Daily Star, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, and Prince William also will get to experience the ringing of the bells.
As to whether they extend the privilege to anyone else — such as Prince George, who is now second in line for the throne — remains to be seen. But for now, the bells only seem to ring for an exclusive group of royals.
Kate's birthday comes just one day before her brother-in-law's book drops.
Prince Harry's highly anticipated memoir Spare will hit bookshelves on January 10. Based on all the details that have leaked about the book so far — which includes a story about an alleged nasty confrontation between Harry and his brother that turned violent — we can't imagine any birthday phone calls were exchanged between the pair.
Hopefully Kate got a chance to enjoy her big day and appreciate the sounds of the bells ringing in her honor, even in the middle of all this family drama.
