Kate Middleton; Westminster Abbey.Credit : Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty; English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty

Kate Middleton received a special honor from a historic U.K. institution to celebrate her 44th birthday.

The Princess of Wales had her big day marked with a chorus of bells at Westminster Abbey in London, a rare honor in recent years.

The historic venue, where Kate and Prince William were married in 2011, shared a video of the bells ringing at 1:00 p.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 9.

“The Abbey bells are ringing out to celebrate the birthday of HRH The Princess of Wales,” read the social media post. “Our bell ringers are ringing 344 changes of Erin Caters followed by 544 changes of Spliced Surprise Royal.”

Westminster Abbey was once known for ringing its bells to celebrate the birthdays of numerous members of the royal family. However, the tradition has changed in recent years due to financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to 2020, the bells marked the birthdays of 12 royals: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their four children — the now-King Charles, Princess Anne, the former Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — all received the honor, as did Charles’ wife, the now-Queen Camilla. Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — completed the list.

However, when the Abbey announced their bell-ringing schedule for 2022, it was revealed that the bells would only mark the birthdays of Queen Elizabeth and Charles. The following year, after the Queen’s death and Charles’ accession to the throne, William and Kate were added back to the schedule as the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton with her family at Wesminster Abbey in London on Dec. 5, 2025.Aaron Chown – Pool/Getty

So far, the Abbey’s official website lists the bell-ringing schedule for the first half of the year. In addition to Kate’s birthday, King Charles’ official birthday is set to be celebrated in June, as will Prince William’s 44th birthday the same month.

Additionally, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, will have his 69th birthday rung in on June 10.

Westminster Abbey holds special significance to all members of the royal family, but Princess Kate in particular. In addition to being her royal wedding venue, it is also the site of her annual “Together at Christmas” carol service.

The Princess of Wales penned a heartfelt message to the guests at her 2025 event last month, offering a message of connection and hope in “uncertain” times.

She wrote, in part, “We are drawn by an instinctive pull towards belonging and connection. Even with all the rushing around and familiar traditions, there is a quieter sense of what it calls out in us. There is a softness to the season that reminds us of something easy to forget; that what we do matters.”

“Our words, our choices, and even the ways we look out for one another – they ripple outward, touching lives we may never see. At a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain, the Christmas season invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another with generosity of heart, understanding and hope. This Carol Service offers a moment of collective togetherness, a chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service, and to honor the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.”