Prince William and Princess Kate have shared a charming new video of Princess Charlotte enjoying the sand and spending time with family dog Otto as she celebrates her 11th birthday. The clip, released via the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media account, offers a rare glimpse into the young princess's life during a family holiday.
Birthday Portrait and Video
Alongside the video, a stunning portrait was shared, showing Charlotte smiling broadly, dressed in a striped blue-black and red jumper and blue jeans, surrounded by flowers and trees. The photograph was taken by the couple's trusted photographer, Matt Porteous, during their Easter getaway to Cornwall last month. The accompanying message read: "Wishing Charlotte a very happy 11th birthday!" with a birthday cake emoji.
The portrait pays homage to Charlotte's love of nature, following last year's photograph that showed her windswept and grinning happily while enjoying the outdoors with her mother. The new image highlights her remarkable likeness to her father, Prince William, with similar facial features frequently drawing comment from the public. Her loose, flowing hair is more reminiscent of her mother Kate, who has traditionally taken charge of her children's birthday snaps in recent years.
Recent Family Photos
This is the second new photo of the princess in recent days, after the Waleses shared a touching family snap to mark their 15th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. That shot showed Charlotte sharing a smile with her younger brother Prince Louis and her mother as the family enjoyed lying in the sun during their Cornwall trip. In today's photo, she can be seen sporting the same ivy blue nail varnish as in the family shot.
Fans were thrilled with the new photo, commenting on how "grown up" Princess Charlotte is becoming and describing her as "William's mini-me."
Royal Succession and Public Life
Charlotte is third in line to the throne and, one day, is set to become Princess Royal, following in the footsteps of her great aunt, Princess Anne. Many think she would be a natural successor to the role. Due to changes in 2013 to the rules concerning succession, male heirs are no longer prioritised above female heirs, making Charlotte the first British princess to rank above a younger brother. Her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born on May 2, 2015, at St Mary's Hospital in London, weighing 8lb 3oz.
Despite her young age, she already has a legion of fans, thanks in part to her seemingly effortless decorum on the global stage. She has won hearts by frequently taking charge of her brothers at public events, especially her younger sibling Prince Louis, who turned eight on April 23. Last week, the couple shared a new photo of Louis captured by Matt Porteous during the family's Easter getaway to Cornwall.
Charlotte lives a largely private life thanks to her parents' protection, attending Lambrook School undisturbed. When her parents have spoken about her, they paint a picture of any other 11-year-old, with a love of dancing and Taylor Swift. She is a keen ballet dancer and enjoys making friendship bracelets, famously styling one for Prince William with the word "papa" on it.
Previous Birthday Portraits
Last year, Charlotte's portrait saw a turn away from traditional floral dresses, with a photograph of the youngster on a family outing. Windswept, wearing a backpack and leaf-patterned coat, she smiled broadly at her mother in a more casual snap. The year before, the Waleses released an image taken by Kate showing her daughter with a cheeky grin and flowing blonde hair. To mark her eighth birthday, two official pictures showed her with the family's cocker spaniel, Orla.
Princess Charlotte has been described by insiders as the royal family's "secret weapon," taking on the role of a "boss" at home who is not afraid to speak her mind. Royal historian Marlene Koenig told US Weekly that Charlotte "rules the roost" at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, adding that Kate describes Charlotte as "independent and the one in charge." Last year, her father William revealed how the straight-talking youngster made him shave off his beard when she disapproved.
Charlotte's last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when she joined senior royals for the traditional service at St George's Chapel in Windsor. She put on a sweet mother-daughter display with Princess Catherine, walking out of the service while holding hands. They wore coordinated outfits, with Catherine opting for a cream two-piece suit from Self-Portrait with a brown leather handbag and matching heels, complemented by Charlotte's camel-coloured coat with brown velvet accents over a white dress and black pumps.
