Just when we thought we weren’t getting any new photos for Princess Charlotte’s third birthday, Kensington Palace have surprised us all!
On Sunday May 6th at midnight UK time, the palace released two breathtaking new photos to celebrate Princess Charlotte’s birthday and Prince Louis’ recent arrival.
This marks the first-ever official family photographs of the Cambridge cuties after the world was introduced to Prince Louis Arthur Charles on the steps of St Mary’s hospital on the day of his April 23rd birth last month.
READ MORE: How do Prince Louis’ first photos compare to Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s?
Once again, talented shutterbug and new mother-of-three Duchess Catherine captured the tender moment between big sister Charlotte and her baby brother at Kensington Palace on Charlotte’s May 2nd birthday last week.
In the first snap, Charlotte gently cradles a sleeping Louis as she lovingly places a kiss on his forehead – a strong brother-sister bond no doubt already in the making.
The three-year-old birthday girl looks picture-perfect with her brunette locks tied back in a ponytail and a clip, rocking a navy dress and cardigan combo.
Prince Louis was born on April 23rd.
In the second photo, little Louis is propped up on the couch in a crisp white knitted jumper and pants, alert and looking into the distance.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share two photographs of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, taken by The Duchess at Kensington Palace. This image was taken on 2nd May, on Princess Charlotte’s third Birthday,” the statement said.
It concluded: “The Duke and Duchess would like to thank members of the public for their kind messages following the birth of Prince Louis, and for Princess Charlotte’s third birthday.”
Many royal watchers would notice just how similar these photos are to the portraits Kate captured a month after Charlotte’s birth in 2015, which show big brother George giving his little sister a loving smooch.
Now, three years later Charlotte gets to recreate the sweet moment – this time as the role of older sibling.
In another touching detail, Princess Charlotte is wearing older brother Prince George’s hand-me-down blue sweater by Spanish label Fina Ejerique.
The last time we saw George in the navy knit was in 2016, when he posed alongside Queen Elizabeth and her great-grandchildren and youngest grandchildren for her special edition 90th birthday portrait by photographer Annie Leibovitz in 2016.
While newborn Louis, who is fifth in line to the British throne, dons the matching outfit Charlotte wore in her first portraits in 2015 by Irulea.
Same-same but different: Prince George posed with his new sister Princess Charlotte for her first portrait taken by mum Duchess Catherine in 2015.
Three years later, Charlotte recreates this sweet moment.
Sadly, the Cambridge’s oldest child Prince George was absent from these particular photos but we have no doubt we’ll get to see him take a starring role in uncle Harry’s upcoming wedding to Meghan Markle this month.
While Prince Louis is too young for the event and will be most likely be left at home, the next glimpse we’ll catch of the tiny royal should be at his christening.
The palace are yet to announce the date but it should be happening in the coming months!
The perfect prince: Louis is such a cutie!
