In celebration of Princess Charlotte’s ninth birthday on Thursday, May 2, the Prince and Princess of Wales delighted fans with a new photograph of their daughter on social media. This heartwarming picture, captured by Catherine, Princess of Wales, in Windsor, came with a gratitude message to fans for the birthday wishes.

The shared birthday picture of Princess Charlotte marks the second time that the royal couple has shared such personal moments publicly. The first time was when they posted a charming photo of their youngest son, Prince Louis, for his sixth birthday just a few weeks earlier.

Prince William and Kate have established a tradition of releasing new yearly birthday portraits of their children. So, prep yourself for more pictures from the royal family.

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Let’s recap the couple’s method of sharing these pictures. You’d notice that previously, Kensington Palace provided images to media outlets for advance publicity. However, the strategy changed after a digitally altered photo of Kate for Mother’s Day caused a stir.

Now, the palace opts for direct social media posts on the day of the events, retaining control over the narrative and ensuring authenticity. This change comes from a place of pain for the royal family.

Since the start of the year, they have faced numerous challenges, including Kate’s hiatus from public duties due to her ongoing cancer treatment. In fact, the last time the public saw Princess Charlotte was during the family’s traditional Christmas Day walk to church on Norfolk’s Sandringham estate.

Afterward, Princess Charlotte appeared with her siblings at Kate’s annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey in London last December. More recently, Prince William shared a charming tidbit about his daughter: her favorite joke.

During a visit to St Michael’s Church of England High School in the UK’s West Midlands, he recounted her beloved “knock knock” joke featuring an interrupting cow. Just so you know, Princess Charlotte is the third in line to the throne, following her father and elder brother Prince George.

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As a matter of fact, her poised and commanding presence says it all, and yes, we love it for her. Kate often remarks on her daughter’s confident demeanor.

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You’d most likely recall a funny moment in 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. At Wellington Arch, Princess Charlotte motioned to her elder brother, Prince George, to bow as the Queen’s casket passed by.

Another notable moment was during a previous Trooping the Colour parade in London, where she gently stopped her younger brother, Louis, from waving too enthusiastically to the crowds as their carriage drove by.

In 2023, Princess Charlotte once again won the hearts of many during King Charles’ coronation. She attended the event in a miniature replica of her mother’s elegant ivory silk gown and silver headpiece.

Princess Charlotte’s lovely personality shone through in July 2023 when she attended the Wimbledon men’s final with Kate and George. Her enthusiastic reactions to the match said it all, as the media widely covered all.

Notably, Princess Charlotte holds a unique place in royal history as the first British princess not to be displaced in the line of succession by a younger brother. This is thanks to the 2013 Succession to Crown Act, initiated by her later grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, which ensured equal succession rights for royal children born after 2011, regardless of gender.

This legislative change allowed her to retain her position in the line of succession even after Louis came into the picture in 2018. As mentioned earlier, it has become a tradition for the royal couple to celebrate their children’s birthdays.

The palace released a radiant picture of her smiling for Princess Charlotte’s eighth birthday. For her seventh birthday, the palace treated the public to a trio of charming pictures capturing Charlotte’s playful self in a field of wildflowers. One such sweet moment was captured as she cuddled with the family dog, Orla, in one of the photos.

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