Prince William's birthday photos spark controversy

Prince William is marking his 43rd birthday today, and the royal family is sharing adorable photos to commemorate the occasion. 

The Prince of Wales has been showered with love and well-wishes from fans around the world.

Interestingly, Prince William's 18th birthday celebrations were marred by controversy when his press secretary, Sandy Henney, reportedly resigned after a row over copyright photos. 

The palace had given exclusive access to the Daily Telegraph and ITN to take photos of Prince William at Eton, sparking outrage among other news outlets.

The controversy centered around the ownership of the copyright for the photos, with Buckingham Palace traditionally owning the rights and proceeds going to charity. 

Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore expressed his disappointment, saying, "I was offered the opportunity to take exclusive pictures of Prince William at Eton, which I was honoured to accept." 

The photographer, Ian Jones, eventually agreed to assign the copyright to the Prince of Wales.

St James' Palace released a statement clarifying the situation, saying, "It is a matter of deep regret that confusion has arisen over the photographs commissioned to mark Prince William's 18th birthday." 

The palace emphasised that no one should profit from pictures of Prince William or Prince Harry without ensuring that proceeds go to charity.

Today, Prince William is celebrated for his dedication to his royal duties and his family. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a heartwarming photo of William cuddling their new puppies on Instagram, captioning it, "Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!"