Princess Charlotte Turns 11 as New Portrait Released from Cornwall Holiday

Key facts

• Princess Charlotte was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
• She is third in line to the throne, after her grandfather King Charles and brother Prince George.
• The birthday portrait was taken by photographer Matt Porteous during the Wales family's Easter holiday in Cornwall.
• A separate video shows Charlotte bowling a cricket ball, patting the family's dogs Orla and Otto, and writing in the sand with shells.
• The family also celebrated the first birthday of their second dog, Otto, on 1 May.
• Prince William and Catherine marked their 15th wedding anniversary on 29 April with a family portrait taken by Porteous.
• Charlotte has appeared in public only once this year, at the Easter Sunday church service in Windsor.
• The Wales family has shifted to releasing birthday photos directly on social media since Prince Louis's sixth birthday in 2024.

A Birthday Portrait from the Cornish Countryside

Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, turned 11 on Thursday. To mark the occasion, Kensington Palace released a new photograph and video of the young princess, taken during the family's Easter holiday in Cornwall. The image, captured by photographer Matt Porteous, shows Charlotte standing in a sunny field, smiling, wearing a black-and-red striped jumper and blue jeans. The backdrop of daisies and green grass echoes the informal, natural style that has become a hallmark of the Wales family's official portraits. A separate video montage posted hours later offers a glimpse of the princess at play: bowling a cricket ball, petting the family's two cocker spaniels, Orla and Otto, and using white shells to write a message in the sand.

A Week of Family Celebrations

Charlotte's birthday follows a string of family milestones. On Wednesday, Prince William and Catherine released a new family portrait to commemorate their 15th wedding anniversary. The photograph, also taken by Porteous in Cornwall, shows the couple lying in the grass with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and their two dogs. Just a day before Charlotte's birthday, the family celebrated the first birthday of their younger spaniel, Otto, who came from a litter of Orla's puppies. They shared a photo of the brown spaniel sitting in a grassy field in Cornwall with the caption: 'Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today.' The series of releases marks a departure from the family's earlier practice of providing birthday portraits to the press under embargo for publication on the day. Since Prince Louis's sixth birthday in 2024, the Waleses have chosen to share images directly on their own social media channels.

A Shift in Royal Photo Strategy

The change in approach followed a period of intense scrutiny. In March 2024, Kensington Palace released an edited family photograph for Mother's Day that was later found to have been digitally manipulated, prompting news agencies to issue a kill notice. Shortly after, Catherine disclosed her cancer diagnosis. Since then, the family has opted for a straight-to-social-media strategy, bypassing traditional embargoes. The portraits for Prince Louis's eighth birthday and Princess Charlotte's eleventh were both released this way, with no prior distribution to the press. Photographer Matt Porteous, based in Jersey, has become a trusted chronicler of the Wales family. His past commissions include behind-the-scenes moments from Prince Louis's christening, Christmas cards, and official royal portraits.

A Rare Public Appearance Since Easter

Princess Charlotte has been seen in public only once this year. She joined her parents and brothers at the Royal Family's annual Easter Sunday church service in Windsor, where she was photographed smiling and waving to crowds. Born at 8:43 a.m. on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, Charlotte is formally known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales. As the granddaughter of King Charles, she is third in line to the throne, behind her father and elder brother Prince George, 12. Her younger brother, Prince Louis, is 8. The princess's birthday portrait and video come amid a period of relative public absence for the family, as Catherine continues her recovery from cancer treatment.

A Carefully Curated Glimpse into Family Life

The images released this week offer a carefully curated view of the Wales family's private life. The setting—a sunny field in Cornwall—evokes the relaxed, outdoorsy image the couple has cultivated since their marriage. Porteous's photographs, with their natural light and candid poses, stand in contrast to the more formal royal portraits of previous generations. The inclusion of the family dogs and the children at play reinforces a narrative of normalcy and togetherness. Yet the strategic shift to direct social media releases also reflects a desire for control over the family's image, particularly after the editing controversy and Catherine's health struggles. By bypassing traditional media channels, the Waleses can present their own narrative without intermediary interpretation.

The Road Ahead for the Young Princess

As Princess Charlotte enters her twelfth year, her public role remains limited. She has not yet taken on official engagements, and her appearances are largely confined to family events and holidays. Her birthday comes at a time when the monarchy is navigating a period of transition. King Charles continues his own cancer treatment, and the Prince of Wales is increasingly taking on senior royal duties. Charlotte, as third in line, will likely see her public profile grow in the years ahead. For now, the Wales family appears focused on maintaining a sense of stability and privacy. The carefully timed releases of portraits and videos offer the public a glimpse—but only a glimpse—into their world.

The bottom line

• Princess Charlotte turned 11 on 2 May, with a new portrait and video released by Kensington Palace.
• The images were taken by Matt Porteous during the family's Easter holiday in Cornwall.
• The week also included a 15th wedding anniversary portrait for William and Catherine and a first birthday photo for their dog Otto.
• The Wales family has shifted to releasing birthday photos directly on social media since 2024, following an edited image controversy and Catherine's cancer diagnosis.
• Charlotte has made only one public appearance in 2025, at the Easter Sunday church service in Windsor.
• She is third in line to the British throne, after King Charles and Prince George.