Princess Charlotte celebrates her ninth birthday on Thursday.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to release a new image of their daughter on social media to mark the occasion, just like they did for Prince Louis’s birthday last week.
Charlotte’s big day comes as the Waleses navigate Kate’s cancer treatment, with the princess away from official duties since the start of the year.
Third in line to the throne Charlotte attends the co-educational private Lambrook School near Ascot in Berkshire, and loves dancing, especially ballet and tap.
She has a reputation for being feisty compared to her older brother George, and Kate has described the princess as “the one in charge”.
This time last year, Charlotte was preparing for her grandfather the King’s coronation, where she processed through Westminster Abbey hand in hand with Louis.
She wore a mini-me version of Kate’s silver bullion, crystal and silver thread headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen.
Charlotte was last seen in public on Christmas Day when she walked to church with her family and second cousin Mia Tindall at Sandringham.
The Wales family spent quality time together during the Easter holidays following Kate’s public announcement about her health.
It avoided the uproar sparked by the princess’s digitally altered Mother’s Day photo.
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, then a princess of Cambridge, was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, at 8.34am on May 2 2015, weighing 8lbs 3oz.
