Princess Charlotte celebrates her 9th birthday, gets new portrait by Kate Middleton

A new portrait of a smiling Princess Charlotte marks her 9th birthday. 

Released by the Prince and Princess of Wales on their official social media account, the photo was taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, in Windsor and accompanied by a message of gratitude for well-wishes.

This follows a similar recent release for Prince Louis's 6th birthday. It seems William and Kate have established a tradition of sharing personal photos of their children to mark their milestones.

The Waleses have adjusted their media strategy, choosing to release the photos directly to social media. 
This shift follows controversy surrounding digitally altered elements in Kate's previous Mother's Day portrait.

Princess Charlotte's recent public appearances include the royal family's Christmas Day walk and her mother's carol concert.  

Prince William recently shared the young princess's favourite "knock-knock" joke, offering a glimpse of her playful nature.

Despite her young age, Charlotte has reportedly demonstrated strong leadership qualities. Her mother once described her as being "the one in charge,"  and she's been observed reminding her brothers about royal protocol at public events.

As the first British princess to benefit from the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, Charlotte holds a unique place in history. 

The law ensures her position in the line of succession regardless of gender,  making her third in line after her father and brother. She was born on May 2nd, 2015.