Princess Charlotte, who turns 11 today, has been praised for her confident and poised public appearances, which royal experts attribute to the stable family life created by her parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, Charlotte's self-assured manner is 'living proof' that William and Kate's focus on family is paying off. Bond told the Mirror: 'I think confidence in any child is born of a happy and stable home life. And that is precisely what William and Catherine have worked so hard at achieving for their children.'
Charlotte has impressed crowds at recent events, including Easter Sunday at Windsor Castle and Christmas Day at Sandringham, where she hugged well-wishers and accepted gifts. Bond noted that Charlotte 'looked by far the most at ease in front of the cameras and crowds' and described her as 'effortlessly elegant'.
Despite her public poise, Charlotte and her brothers George and Louis are shielded from excessive media attention to enjoy a normal childhood at Lambrook School. Like many 11-year-olds, Charlotte loves dancing, gymnastics, and Taylor Swift, and has made friendship bracelets for her father, William.
Bond suggested that full-time royal duties may await Charlotte in the future, given the dwindling number of working royals, but added that her parents would not force her into a role she does not want. 'This is a new era,' Bond said, 'which will afford some of the young royals a little more choice.'
