TL;DR
Princess Charlotte has turned 11. The Royal Household typically marks the birthdays of senior royal children with a new portrait, released through the Kensington Palace social channels and the Royal Communications team.
Princess Charlotte has turned 11, with the Royal Household following the established tradition of marking senior royal children's birthdays through the release of a new portrait. The image typically appears on the Kensington Palace social channels and on royal.uk during the day of the birthday.
The birthday portrait tradition
Senior royal children's birthdays have been marked by formal portraits for more than a century. The image style and photographer vary, with recent years seeing the Princess of Wales credited as the photographer for several family portraits.
The portrait is released through royal.uk and Kensington Palace social channels. The Royal Communications team distributes the image to the Press Association and other UK news outlets under standard royal photography rules.
How royal children's portraits are released
Royal portrait releases include a credit, a caption indicating the occasion, and a statement of the conditions of use. Personal sharing on social media is allowed but commercial reuse and editing require permission from the Royal Communications team.
Coronation portraits, anniversary portraits and major occasion portraits follow similar release rules. The Royal Collection Trust archives photographs of senior royals for historic record.
Princess Charlotte's official role
Princess Charlotte is third in the line of succession, after her father William and brother George. The line of succession is set out under the Act of Settlement 1701 as amended by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which gave women equal claim to the throne.
Royal children do not undertake official engagements until they are older. Princess Charlotte has occasionally appeared at family events such as Trooping the Colour and Christmas Day services at Sandringham, but does not yet hold a formal patronage.
School and family life
Princess Charlotte attends Lambrook School in Berkshire alongside her brothers Prince George and Prince Louis. The Royal Household typically does not comment on day-to-day school matters and asks media to respect the children's privacy.
The Princess of Wales has previously spoken about the importance of family and the early years in her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Royal children's privacy is supported by the Independent Press Standards Organisation's editorial code.
Where to follow official royal updates
Royal.uk publishes the diary of future engagements, biographies of the working royals and statements on major events. Each working royal household has its own communications team for engagements specific to that family.
Major UK newspapers carry the Court Circular daily. Hello Magazine, Tatler and the Telegraph's royal section follow royal events alongside the Royal Household's own channels.
Key facts
- Princess Charlotte is third in the line of succession.
- Birthday portrait tradition runs over a century.
- Royal Communications team distributes the image.
- Charlotte attends Lambrook School in Berkshire.
- Succession to the Crown Act 2013 ensures equal claim regardless of gender.
FAQ
How does the Royal Household mark Princess Charlotte's birthday?
Through a formal portrait release. The image is published on royal.uk and on Kensington Palace social channels, and is distributed to UK news outlets under standard royal photography rules.
Where is Princess Charlotte in the line of succession?
Third, after her father William and her brother George. The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 gives women equal claim to the throne.
Will Princess Charlotte attend public engagements as a child?
Royal children do not undertake official engagements at this age. Princess Charlotte has occasionally appeared at major family events such as Trooping the Colour and Sandringham Christmas Day services.
Where can I follow official royal news?
Royal.uk publishes the diary of future engagements and statements on major events. Each working royal household has its own communications channels for family-specific updates.
