Princess Charlotte Turns 11: New Portrait and Video Released by William and Kate

Key facts

• Princess Charlotte was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 08:43.
• She is third in line to the British throne, after her father Prince William and brother Prince George.
• The birthday portrait was taken by photographer Matt Porteous during the family's Easter break in Cornwall.
• A separate video shows Charlotte bowling a cricket ball, petting dogs Orla and Otto, and writing in sand with shells.
• The posts come two days after King Charles III concluded a four-day U.S. state visit with President Donald Trump.
• Otto, the family's brown spaniel, turned one on 1 May and was featured in a separate birthday post.
• Charlotte has two brothers: Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 8.

A Candid Portrait and Beach Video Mark the Occasion

Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of Prince William and Princess Catherine, celebrated her 11th birthday on Saturday with the release of a new photograph and video by her parents. The image, captured by photographer Matt Porteous during the family's Easter holiday in Cornwall, shows Charlotte smiling in a sunny field, wearing a black-and-red striped jumper and blue jeans, with her hair down and nails painted blue. A separate video montage posted hours later offers a glimpse of the princess at the same seaside break: bowling a cricket ball, patting the family's two dogs, Orla and Otto, and using white shells to write a message in the sand. Kensington Palace accompanied the posts with messages reading, "Wishing Charlotte a very happy 11th birthday!" and, later, "Thank you for the lovely birthday messages for Princess Charlotte, 11 today!"

The Photographer and the Setting

Matt Porteous, a Jersey-based photographer, has become a go-to lens for the Wales family, having previously captured behind-the-scenes moments from Prince Louis's christening, Christmas cards, and official portraits. The Cornwall backdrop for Charlotte's birthday shoot was the same location where the family spent their Easter break, and where Porteous also shot the image released for Prince Louis's eighth birthday just a week earlier. Porteous's work for the royals includes the family portrait shared on Wednesday to mark William and Catherine's 15th wedding anniversary. That image, also taken in Cornwall, shows the couple lying in the grass with their three children and the two dogs, Orla and Otto.

A Busy Week for the Royal Family

Charlotte's birthday celebrations come just two days after King Charles III and Queen Camilla returned from a historic four-day state visit to the United States, their first since ascending to the throne. The couple met with President Donald Trump at the White House and concluded the trip on April 30, departing by helicopter after bidding farewell to British Ambassador to the U.S. Christian Turner. The royal family's public engagements have kept them in the political spotlight, with the King's visit drawing significant attention. Charlotte herself was last seen in public at the Royal Family's annual Easter Sunday church service in Windsor, where she was smiling and waving at crowds.

The Family's Dogs Also in the Spotlight

The day before Charlotte's birthday, on Friday, the Wales family celebrated the first birthday of their younger dog, Otto. A windswept photo of the brown spaniel sitting in a grassy field in Cornwall was posted with the caption: "Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today." Otto is the son of Orla, the family's black cocker spaniel who joined them in 2020. In February, Catherine revealed that they had kept one male puppy from Orla's 2025 litter. Otto made his public debut in a family photo shared on April 29 to mark William and Kate's 15th wedding anniversary. The image, also taken by Porteous, showed the couple lying on the grass with their children and the two dogs.

Charlotte's Place in the Line of Succession

Princess Charlotte, formally known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales, was born at 08:43 on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. As the granddaughter of King Charles III, she is third in line to the throne, behind her father, Prince William, and her older brother, Prince George, who will turn 13 on July 22. Her younger brother, Prince Louis, is fourth in line. The princess's birthday portrait and video have drawn widespread public attention, with social media flooded with birthday wishes and compliments. One commenter, Crystal Geitter, wrote, "Loving those 💅🏻! Love that they let her be a normal kid."

A Glimpse into Royal Childhood Amid Political Events

The release of Charlotte's birthday material offers a carefully curated window into the private life of the royal family, even as senior members engage in high-stakes diplomacy. The juxtaposition of the King's U.S. visit with the Waleses' domestic posts underscores the dual nature of the monarchy: a constitutional institution with political reach and a family whose personal milestones resonate with the public. For now, the images of Charlotte playing on a Cornish beach with her dogs and writing in the sand serve as a reminder of the childhood that unfolds away from the formal duties and state visits. The family's choice to share these moments, captured by a trusted photographer, reflects a deliberate strategy to balance public expectation with private life.

The bottom line

• Princess Charlotte turned 11 on 2 May 2025; her parents released a new portrait and video taken in Cornwall by photographer Matt Porteous.
• The birthday posts follow King Charles III's four-day U.S. state visit and the Waleses' 15th wedding anniversary.
• The family's dog Otto, a brown spaniel, turned one on 1 May and was featured in a separate birthday post.
• Charlotte is third in line to the British throne, after Prince William and Prince George.
• The royal family continues to use carefully curated social media posts to manage public engagement while maintaining privacy.