With love from me to you: Macca and the Princes’ very public Father’s Day tributes
AROUND £700million is estimated to have been spent on Father’s Day cards and gifts, but some of the warmest expressions of appreciation for dads across the country yesterday came in photos posted online.
Kensington Palace released two pictures under the caption: ‘Wishing all the fathers out there a very happy day.’ In one, Prince George wraps his arms tightly around the neck of his father, the Duke of Cambridge.
In the other, a much younger William is seen with his brother Harry and father Prince Charles as they rest their hands on shepherd’s crooks on the moors at Balmoral in 1996.
Royal fans were delighted with the picture of Prince George, taken at a children’s party for military families during last year’s tour of Canada, but some asked ‘Where is Charlotte?’, referring to William’s daughter.
A day earlier, the whole family was photographed together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour, when both George and Charlotte delighted the crowds.
But the Duke was not the only famous father acknowledged by his family yesterday, as scores of celebrities posted photos of their dads on social media.
Among them was fashion designer Stella McCartney, who posted a tribute to her father Sir Paul, who also celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday. In the image, Miss McCartney, 45, rests her head on her dad’s shoulder. The caption read: ‘Happy birthday and happy Father’s Day dad... I am so blessed to have you in my heart and soul.’
Meanwhile, Sir Paul posted a picture of his own father, James, who died in 1976. In the picture, a young, shirtless McCartney rests his arms on his father’s shoulders, with the caption: ‘Happy Daddy’s Day with love.’
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, 47, paid tribute to her father, David, a former sweet factory owner, with a photo of the two of them and the caption: ‘You are the sunshine of my life! I love you.’
Fellow actress Elizabeth Hurley, 52, thanked her ex-husband, textiles heir Arun Nayar, also 52, for being ‘the best daddy to our little man’ – her son from a previous relationship, Damian, now 15.
Jamie Oliver posted four pictures of his father Trevor, while his wife Jools shared one of the chef with their fifth child, River Rocket, who was born in August.
Pop star Cheryl posted a tribute to boyfriend Liam Payne on his first Father’s Day, saying his relationship with their son Bear ‘melts my heart’.
The business research firm GlobalData estimated £700million was spent on Father’s Day gifts in the UK, compared with £1.4billion on Mother’s Day.