... but at least Charlotte had a 4th birthday to remember

WILLIAM and Kate threw a ‘rowdy’ party for Princess Charlotte’s fourth birthday at Kensington Palace yesterday.

Earlier in the day, the Duke of Cambridge had said he was expecting ‘lots of children’ to turn up for the celebrations.

He revealed the plans to acclaimed children’s writer Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom, as he made her a CBE during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony yesterday. The former Children’s Laureate said she chatted to the duke about the party for Charlotte, pictured, and her book The Gruffalo, which was published 20 years ago.

‘He said it’s his daughter’s birthday today and he loves the book,’ Mrs Donaldson said after meeting William.

‘He reads my stories to his children, and he said he was going to have quite a rowdy party – he’s got a lot of children (coming).’