Princess Charlotte Reaches Double Digits: Royal Family Celebrates Milestone Birthday
Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, marks her 10th birthday today with the release of a striking portrait captured in the picturesque landscapes of Cumbria. The candid image, taken personally by her mother Catherine using just an iPhone during a family excursion earlier this year, shows the young royal beaming with confidence.
The photograph, shared across Kensington Palace's official social media platforms alongside warm birthday wishes and a heart emoji, depicts Charlotte in outdoor attire including a camouflage-patterned jacket – perhaps reflecting her adventurous spirit as she enters her second decade.
As the middle child of Prince William and Catherine, Princess Charlotte holds a unique place in royal history. Following the succession law reforms implemented in 2013, she became the first British princess whose position in the line of succession remained unaffected by the birth of a younger brother. Currently third in line to the throne, her given names – Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – honor both her late grandmother and great-grandmother.
This intimate birthday portrait continues the Wales family tradition of sharing personal photography to mark significant milestones, coming shortly after a similar image celebrated Prince Louis' seventh birthday last week. The choice to release photos taken by Catherine herself rather than commissioning formal portraits reflects the family's more modern, approachable style of royal representation.
As Charlotte enters her tween years, this birthday marks a significant transition from early childhood to growing maturity for the young princess, who continues to capture public affection while balancing normal childhood experiences with her future responsibilities within the monarchy.
