Kate Middleton was given a special honor to mark her 44th birthday, as Westminster Abbey rang its bells in celebration of the occasion.
A Rare Tribute at Westminster Abbey
The Princess of Wales had her birthday acknowledged with a ceremonial peal of bells at Westminster Abbey in London, an honor that has become increasingly uncommon in recent years.
The Abbey, where Kate married Prince William in 2011, shared a video showing 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,” the post read. “Our bell ringers are ringing 344 changes of Erin Caters followed by 544 changes of Spliced Surprise Royal.”
A Tradition Scaled Back in Recent Years
Westminster Abbey was once known for regularly ringing its bells to celebrate the birthdays of many members of the royal family. However, this long-standing tradition was scaled back following financial challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.