Princess Charlotte Turns 11 as New Photos Show Royal Middle Child in Cornwall

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, behind her father Prince William and older brother Prince George.
• The new photo and video were taken by photographer Matt Porteous during the Wales family's Easter break in Cornwall.
• Charlotte is shown in a black and red striped jumper and blue jeans, standing in a sunny field.
• The video includes scenes of Charlotte bowling a cricket ball, patting the dogs Orla and Otto, and writing in the sand with shells.
• Kensington Palace posted the images on social media with the message: 'Wishing Charlotte a very happy 11th birthday!'
• Charlotte's birthday follows the family's 15th wedding anniversary on 29 April and her brother Louis's 8th birthday on 23 April.
• The family was last seen publicly at the Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

A Birthday Portrait from the Cornwall Countryside

Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, turned 11 on Saturday, and Kensington Palace marked the occasion with a previously unseen photograph and a candid video montage. The image, shot 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 with blue jeans. A second post on the official Instagram account of the Prince and Princess of Wales featured a short video from the same holiday. In it, Charlotte is seen bowling a cricket ball, patting the family's two dogs, Orla and Otto, and using white shells to write a message in the sand. The caption read: 'Thank you for the lovely birthday messages for Princess Charlotte, 11 today!'

A Series of Family Milestones

Charlotte's birthday comes just days after Prince William and Princess Catherine celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on 29 April. To mark the occasion, the couple released a new family portrait, also taken by Porteous during the Cornwall break, showing them lying in the grass with their three children and the two dogs. Earlier in the week, the Wales family celebrated the first birthday of their younger dog, Otto, a brown spaniel, with a photo of him sitting in a grassy field in Cornwall. The caption read: 'Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today.' Charlotte's younger brother, Prince Louis, turned 8 on 23 April, and her older brother, Prince George, will turn 13 on 22 July.

The Photographer Behind the Royal Images

Matt Porteous, a photographer based in Jersey, has a long history of royal commissions from Prince William and Princess Catherine. His past work includes behind-the-scenes moments from Prince Louis's christening, official Christmas cards, and royal portraits. The Wales family has increasingly turned to Porteous for intimate, informal images that offer a glimpse into their private life. The choice of Cornwall for the Easter break is significant: the region holds personal meaning for the royal couple, who have spent holidays there with their children. The photographs and video released for Charlotte's birthday continue a tradition of sharing carefully curated family moments on social media.

Charlotte's Place in the Royal 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, the same hospital where her brothers were born. As the granddaughter of King Charles, she is third in line to the throne, behind her father and older brother George. Charlotte is the middle child of William and Kate's three children. She attends Lambrook School, a prep school for children ages 3 to 13 near the family's home in Windsor, England. The school is also attended by her brothers.

Last Public Appearance and Private Birthday Plans

The Princess was last seen in public at the Royal Family's annual Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, where she was smiling and waving at crowds. The service was attended by other senior royals, including the King and Queen. Charlotte is expected to spend her birthday privately with her family, away from the public eye. The release of the photographs and video offers a rare, controlled glimpse into her life as she enters her 11th year.

A Childhood in the Spotlight

As the only daughter of the future king, Charlotte has grown up in the public eye, yet her parents have sought to balance royal duties with a normal upbringing. The images from Cornwall, showing her playing with the family dogs and enjoying the beach, reflect an effort to present a relatable, happy childhood. Her 11th birthday marks a transition toward adolescence, a period that will likely see her take on more public engagements. For now, the Wales family continues to share carefully selected moments, allowing the public to follow her growth while maintaining boundaries around her private life.

The bottom line

• Princess Charlotte turned 11 on 2 May 2025, with new photos and a video released by Kensington Palace.
• The images were taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous during the family's Easter break in Cornwall.
• Charlotte is third in line to the throne, behind her father Prince William and older brother Prince George.
• Her birthday follows the Waleses' 15th wedding anniversary and her brother Louis's 8th birthday.
• The family was last seen publicly at the Easter Sunday church service in Windsor.
• Charlotte attends Lambrook School and is expected to celebrate her birthday privately with family.