The Prince and Princess of Wales thrilled fans by sharing a candid snapshot to celebrate William's 42nd birthday. 

The heartwarming image captured William joyfully leaping off a sand dune, hand-in-hand with their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. Accompanied by a personal caption that read, "Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much!", the carefree photo quickly went viral. 

Many noted its contrast to the more formal images typically released, with one royal expert suggesting that William and Kate selected the playful picture to convey a subtle message about their family and their future.

"The last few months have been a test of their strong partnership," Jennie Bond revealed to OK! magazine, adding, "I think this photograph tells us that they are still able to jump for joy, even in the toughest of times, and that Kate has deliberately chosen a picture that speaks of their optimism for the future.

"She adores William - he is her rock and has supported her so selflessly through all of this and has taken flak from members of the public for not doing more and for devoting himself to her. So she adores her man. I think their marriage is stronger than ever."

Jenni further noted: "These past few months have been probably the most testing time in the whole of their marriage and must have shaken them to the core. 

"To think about the future must have been incredibly unsettling, but I think that picture has been deliberately chosen to show that they are now all in a frame of mind whereby they can look to the future with positivity."

Prince William decided to temporarily step back from his royal duties to prioritise his children and support his wife following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

According to royal expert Jennie Bond, this decision has likely strengthened the bond between William and Kate.