Prince William's private confession before becoming a dad makes new behind-the-scenes photo with Charlotte even more special
The 11-year-old was the only one of the Wales children to feature in her dad's joint Father's Day and birthday picture
The Prince of Wales’s birthday falls on Father’s Day and gives his family the opportunity to share a new photo in celebration of both occasions. Last year they broke tradition and shared a snap of William with their spaniel Orla and her puppies. For 2026 they also did things a little differently and posted a picture of the proud dad with just Princess Charlotte.
Taken by Matt Porteous after Trooping the Colour, it showed them in the Kensington Palace gardens with their arms around each other. The caption was signed with Catherine and all the children’s initials, though the fact that Charlotte was the only one actually in the picture with William is intriguing.
Before becoming a dad he did a lot to change things for a future daughter - and apparently confessed he wanted his first baby to be a little girl.
Writing in William & Catherine, royal author and editor Russell Myers claimed, "William had privately voiced his preference for having a girl, and was keen to incorporate a tribute to his late mother, most likely in the form of a middle name."
He suggested the Princess of Wales "had her heart set on" Alexander for a son and Alexandra for a daughter. The couple hadn't found out the gender of their firstborn in advance and when they welcomed a little boy in 2013, they ended up giving Prince George the middle name Alexander.
When Charlotte was born two years later Prince William finally got his wish and she was given Diana as one of her middle names. Their close father-daughter bond was unmissable in the new picture and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes that William might have a particularly special relationship with his daughter.
"I think daughters and dads tend to have a very special relationship - especially when there's only one little girl in the family," she claimed to The Sun in 2024. "And this seems to be true for William. I'm sure he's immensely proud of all three of his children, but there is perhaps a particular place in his heart for his sporty little Charlotte."
He was spotted wearing a friendship bracelet made and given to him by Charlotte during his visit to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize in November. The Prince of Wales also admitted that the first time he'd grown his beard she hadn't liked it…
"Well Charlotte didn't like it the first time. I got floods of tears, so I had to shave it off," he reportedly explained. "And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be OK."
Her opinion clearly means a lot to him and before he became a dad William pushed for change to ensure a daughter would stay ahead of a younger brother in the royal line of succession. Russell Myers claimed the Prince "raised the issue" with Queen Elizabeth "in the lead-up" to his and Catherine's wedding.
The law was changed, so Princess Charlotte will always be above Prince Louis in the succession. This was a big moment and William's closeness with his daughter in the new picture shows their incredible relationship and how he's blossomed as a girl dad, championing her within the Royal Family.
