Her royal Cuteness
Charlotte’s two today – and isn’t she all grown-up!
SHE has what her mother calls the he distinctive ‘dark, Middleton eyes’.’.
But in this new picture of Princessss Charlotte, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge to mark her daughter’s’s second birthday today, her royal genes es are also clearly in evidence.
Naturally, there’s an obvious likeness to her father Prince William and three-yearrold brother Prince George. But in herer faraway look there is an echo of herer great-grandmother the Queen at about thehe same age.
Like her big brother, Charlotte is rarelyly seen in public. The biggest difference sincece her last appearance – at church in Berkkshire on Christmas Day – is her glossy darkrk hair, clearly inherited from her mother.
Now considerably longer and showing a hint of a curl, it has been brushed until it shines and parted tidily to the left with a navy blue hair bow by one of Kate’s favourrite children’s stores, Amaia Kids.
Unlike many of Charlotte and George’s ’s clothes, it is a snip at £2.50. And for those se wanting to replicate the royal look, the he clips come in a rainbow of colours.
Since anything worn by the two Cammbridge children proves an instant sell-out, ut, royal followers will be disappointed to know that although Charlotte’s primrose yellow cardigan with its sheep pattern around the neck is from John Lewis, it was sold out some time ago.
But the spotted blouse she wears underneath is still on the shelves and costs £12 from middle- class mecca JoJo Maman Bebe. The blouse has a Peter Pan collar and two buttons at the front, but is done up at the back so as not to spoil the design. It comes in a variety of colours – Charlotte is believed to be in ‘denim ditsy floral’.
The picture was taken by Kate, a keen amateur photographer who has released several of her own pictures of the children previously, in the grounds of Anmer Hall, the family’s ten-bedroom Norfolk mansion.
‘She has got quite a feisty side’
Charlotte is posing amid hay bales in what one royal aide described as a ‘small barn’, with a book in her hands, presumably to keep her occupied.
Royal sources say William and Kate are keen to restrict the number of photocalls their children take part in each year and believe they are best positioned to get the most relaxed results from the youngsters.
The choice of location is poignant for the Cambridges as they are due to return to London this summer when William leaves his job as a pilot with the East Anglia Air Ambulance, based in Cambridge.
Having been at Anmer full-time for the past two years, the family will now use the house as a weekend and holiday residence. They will, however, continue to staff it with two full-time housekeepers, a gardener and other part-time staff.
One of the most distinctive things about Charlotte in the new photograph is her thoughtful half-smile.
Friends say that she has a confident, sparkly character, while Kate has said: ‘She is very cute but she has got quite a feisty side. George has turned out to be a really lovely little boy. I hope George will keep Charlotte in order!’
William is said to be ‘ besotted’ by his daughter, letting slip on one engagement that she was a ‘joy from heaven’.
The photo was issued by Kensington Palace, along with a message from the duke and duchess thanking everyone ‘for all of the lovely messages they have received’.
Charlotte’s birthday today is expected to be a low-key affair – a small party at Anmer Hall with a few close family friends, along with Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton.
The princess is due to act as bridesmaid for her aunt Pippa on May 20, with Prince George on pageboy duties.