Princess Charlotte birthday: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release adorable new photo of young royal

Growing up fast: Princess Charlotte
PA
Robert Jobson2 May 2017

Her mum and dad have called her a “joy from heaven” - and on the eve of her second birthday Prince William and Kate have released a new photo of Princess Charlotte.

The snap, taken by Duchess of Cambridge, portrays the soon to be two year princess at their country house Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

Charlotte, who will turn two tomorrow, smiles at Kate as the enthusiastic amateur captures the photo.

Taken in April, Charlotte is wearing a traditional Fair Isle cardigan in baby blue and yellow from John Lewis with a slightly crumpled Peter Pan collar poking out of the top.

In a statement the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they are "very pleased" to share this photograph as they celebrate Princess Charlotte's second birthday.

They added they "like to thank everyone for all of the lovely messages they have received, and hope that everyone enjoys this photograph of Princess Charlotte as much as they do."

Princess Charlotte makes debut on Buckingham Palace balcony

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Charlotte's privacy has been carefully guarded by her parents and during the past year she has only been seen in public on a handful of occasions.

She made an appearance on Christmas Day when she was taken to a church service close to the home of her grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.

She was pictured in the arms of the Duchess when the royal party arrived at St Mark's Church in Englefield, with older brother Prince George holding the Duke's hand as they walked in. When they left, the royal children were clutching candy canes.

Royal family at Victoria garden party

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The other notable outing for Charlotte was during the Duke and Duchess's tour of Canada last autumn when she was seen a number of times, including at a children's party in Victoria, British Colombia.

Charlotte's first birthday was marked with the release of four official photographs by her parents.

Princess Charlotte - In pictures

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But the young royal was first photographed on the day of her birth - May 2, 2015 - when Kate held her daughter outside the private maternity wing of St Mary's hospital in Paddington, central London, where the princess was delivered.

She was named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana in tribute to her grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales and her great-grandmother the Queen.

The Cambridges will be spending more time at Kensington Palace in London when William leaves his air ambulance helicopter pilot job in the summer and devotes more time to royal duties.

George will be schooled at the private Thomas's Battersea school in September and it is likely his sister will be sent to a nursery later this year.

Here are 10 facts about Princess Charlotte:

:: Her full title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.

:: She was born in the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, at 8.34am on Saturday May 2 2015, weighing 8lbs 3oz.

:: Charlotte is the Queen's fifth great-grandchild and a great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.

:: She is fourth in line to the throne following the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George.

:: Charlotte is the highest ranking female in line to the throne, followed by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who are seventh and eighth in line.

:: She has a hamster called Marvin.

:: The Queen is known to George and Charlotte as "Gan Gan''. The monarch also leaves out little gifts for her great-grandchildren when they come to stay.

:: She's feisty. The Duchess of Cambridge said: "She is very cute, but she has got quite a feisty side."

:: She topped Tatler's list of "people who really matter" when she was just eight months old. But the Queen is now back in the number one spot and Charlotte is at number 11.

:: She's competitive like Kate. The Duchess told athlete Paula Radcliffe that both her children love to compete.

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