Princess Kate Middleton issued a poignant message in honor of her 44th birthday. "Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration," Kate said in a Friday, January 9, video statement shared via social media. "Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection, to discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and pulse of every living thing." She continued, "I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am, for the rivers within us flow with ease. Fears washed away, cleanse and purify.