A few minutes after eight on a May morning in 2015, a new princess arrived at St Mary’s Hospital in London — and within hours, her name was being shared around the world. Princess Charlotte of Wales has grown up in the public eye ever since, her birthday portraits released each year by Kensington Palace. This guide walks through her biography, her place in the royal family, and a few questions curious readers often ask.
Full name: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales · Born: 2 May 2015 · Parents: Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales · Siblings: Prince George (born 2013), Prince Louis (born 2018) · Title: Princess of Wales · Place in line of succession: Third (after father and elder brother)
Quick snapshot
- Born 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, London (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- Third in line to the British throne (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- Exact net worth (royal children’s finances are not public) (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Future appearance changes (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Whether she will carry out official duties as a teenager (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Born 2 May 2015 — fourth in line, now third after Queen’s death (Wikipedia — biographical entry)
- Christened 5 July 2015 at Sandringham (Britroyals — family record)
- Celebrated 10th birthday in 2025 with official portrait release (Wikipedia — biographical entry)
- Will turn 11 on 2 May 2026 (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Continuing education at Lambrook School (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Expected to take on limited public roles as she ages (Biography.com — royalty profile)
The snapshot above brings together the core facts. Seven key data points from her life and title are detailed in the table below — one quick reference for the essentials.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales |
| Date of birth | 2 May 2015 |
| Place of birth | St Mary’s Hospital, London |
| Parents | Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales |
| Siblings | Prince George, Prince Louis |
| Title | Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales |
| Line of succession | Third |
Why is Princess Charlotte so famous?
Birth and media attention
Princess Charlotte was born at 8:34am on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital’s Lindo Wing in London, weighing 8lb 3oz (Royal.uk — official royal website). Her arrival was the second child for the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the first princess born to the family in decades — a daughter for the House of Wales. News outlets across the globe covered the birth live, with reporters camped outside the hospital for days.
- She is the second child and only daughter of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- Her birth was widely covered globally, partly because of the rarity of a female royal birth in direct line (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Her full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, honors her grandfather, great-grandmother, and grandmother respectively
Role in the royal family
As the second child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charlotte occupies a unique space: she will never be queen, but she is the first British princess born into the direct line of succession since 1990. That distinction alone draws attention from royal watchers and historians alike.
- She is third in line to the British throne, after her father and elder brother Prince George (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- At birth she was fourth in line, before the death of Queen Elizabeth II shifted the succession order (Wikipedia — biographical entry)
- Her official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales (Wikipedia — biographical entry)
Public appearances and milestones
From her first balcony appearance on 11 June 2016 for the Trooping the Colour ceremony to attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022, Charlotte has been a fixture at major royal events (Britroyals — family record). She served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her aunt Philippa Middleton on 20 May 2017. These appearances, often captured in family portraits released by Kensington Palace, cement her role as a public figure from infancy.
How old is Princess Charlotte in 2026?
Calculating age from birth date
Born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital’s Lindo Wing (Biography.com — royalty profile), Princess Charlotte turns 11 years old on 2 May 2026.
- As of January 2026, she is 10 years and about 8 months old
- She will become a teenager in 2028, when she turns 13
- Her birth time, 8:34am, is publicly recorded by the royal household (Royal.uk — official royal website)
Birthday celebrations and traditions
Kensington Palace traditionally releases a new, candid portrait of Charlotte on each birthday, taken by her mother Catherine. These official photographs, released on 2 May, often show her playing outdoors or with siblings. For her 10th birthday in 2025, the palace posted: “Wishing Charlotte a very happy 10th birthday!” — a simple but globally shared message.
Age milestones (e.g., starting school, becoming a teenager)
- Started nursery at Willcocks Nursery School in 2018 (Britroyals — family record)
- Moved to Thomas’s Battersea School in September 2019
- Transferred to Lambrook School with siblings in September 2022 (Biography.com — royalty profile)
The pattern: Each educational milestone marks a slow, deliberate step away from full-time palace life and into a more independent — but still highly protected — childhood. By 2028, she will be a teenager, and the palace’s carefully curated image of her will face new challenges.
At 11, Princess Charlotte is no longer the baby in the christening gown. Her transition to teenage years will test the royal family’s policy of privacy around children’s development — a policy that has already drawn criticism for its selective enforcement.
What do William and Kate call Charlotte?
Family nicknames reported in media
Several British outlets have reported that Charlotte is called “Lottie” by family members, an affectionate shortening of her first name. Others have suggested “Mignonette” — French for “little sweet one” — as a nickname used by her parents, though neither has been officially confirmed.
- Kate has referred to her as “Charlotte” in public appearances (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Prince William, in a 2016 interview, described her as “very cute” and “a handful” without specifying a nickname
- No official confirmation from Kensington Palace regarding “Lottie” or any other nickname
Official name usage
In all official communications, the palace uses “Princess Charlotte” or “Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales.” The full name Charlotte Elizabeth Diana appears on her birth certificate and in the official royal lineage.
Affectionate terms used by parents
Reports from courtiers and royal biographers suggest that Catherine and William use a variety of affectionate names at home, as any parents would. But the palace maintains a strict policy: private family life is not for public consumption, and nicknames are considered part of that protected sphere.
The catch: Without official confirmation, every reported nickname belongs in the “unconfirmed” column. The absence of denial from the palace is not the same as confirmation — but it also is not denial.
If Charlotte herself ever refers to a nickname in a public appearance — as her brother George notably did when he called his father “Papa” — the palace will have to decide: correct the record publicly, or let the name stick.
How will Princess Charlotte look when she’s older?
Resemblance to parents and relatives
Photographic comparisons on social media frequently note Charlotte’s resemblance to her mother, Catherine. Side-by-side images of Catherine at age 9 and Charlotte at age 9 show similar smiles, hair color, and facial structure. Others point out the striking similarity to Queen Elizabeth II at a comparable age — a comparison that gained traction during the 2022 Platinum Jubilee.
- Current appearance often compared to Kate Middleton at similar age (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- Often compared to Queen Elizabeth II at similar age by royal commentators
- No scientific prediction method exists; all speculation is informal
Age-progression analysis by media
Several news outlets and digital artists have produced age-progression renderings of Charlotte at 18, 25, and 40. These are based on parent images and genetic probability — essentially the same technique used by police forensics for missing persons — but carry no predictive accuracy. The Britroyals — family record notes that royal children often resemble different relatives at different ages, making predictions unreliable.
Limitations of predicting appearance
The trade-off: The public appetite for “future Charlotte” images reflects a deeper fascination with continuity — people want to see the monarchy’s face in the next generation. But the princess herself has a right to grow up without being digitally aged on magazine covers.
Is Princess Charlotte going through puberty?
Typical age of puberty in girls
Puberty in girls typically begins between ages 8 and 13, with the average start around 10 or 11 (Britroyals — family record). Since Charlotte turned 10 in 2025, she falls within the normal range for pubertal development.
- Puberty typically begins between ages 8 and 13 for girls
- Charlotte turned 10 in 2025, so she may be starting or have already started
- Royal family does not publicly discuss children’s developmental milestones (Biography.com — royalty profile)
Public observations of physical changes
In recent official portraits (2024–2025), Charlotte appears slightly taller and with a more defined facial structure than in earlier photographs. These are normal growth changes for a child her age, not necessarily signs of puberty onset. The palace releases only a handful of images each year, so the public record is sparse.
Privacy concerns and royal family policy
The palace’s policy on children’s privacy is clear: no public discussion of medical, developmental, or educational details unless officially disclosed. That means questions about puberty are likely to remain unanswered — the same policy that shielded Prince George’s first day of school photos, then partially opened up to reveal them.
Why this matters: Charlotte is now at an age where media speculation about her body and development will intensify. The palace has a choice — proactively manage the narrative with controlled releases, or let tabloid speculation fill the void.
The family that shares birthday portraits to maintain control over Charlotte’s image is also creating a public record that fuels the very speculation they say they want to avoid. Each annual photograph becomes a new data point for amateur analysts searching for signs of growth and change.
How did Princess Charlotte die?
Historical Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817)
The confusion is understandable. Two royal women share the title “Princess Charlotte of Wales” — but they lived two centuries apart. The historical Princess Charlotte of Wales was born on 7 January 1796 at Carlton House, the only legitimate child of the future King George IV (Royal Collection Trust — Georgian papers programme). She was heir presumptive to the British throne at birth.
- Born 7 January 1796 at Carlton House, London (Royal Collection Trust — Georgian papers programme)
- Sole legitimate grandchild of King George III
- Heir presumptive from birth until her death in 1817
Cause of death: childbirth complications
Princess Charlotte of Wales died on 6 November 1817, at the age of 21, after giving birth to a stillborn son (Royal Collection Trust — Georgian papers programme). Her death triggered a national outpouring of grief and a succession crisis that ultimately led to the birth of Queen Victoria two years later.
- Died 6 November 1817 after delivering a stillborn son
- She was 21 years old
- Her death was caused by postpartum complications, likely hemorrhage and shock
Common confusion with the modern princess
The modern Princess Charlotte of Wales — William and Kate’s daughter — is very much alive. Born on 2 May 2015, she is a healthy 10-year-old (turning 11 in 2026). The confusion typically arises from search engines and social media that fail to distinguish between the two historical figures who share the same formal title.
- Modern Princess Charlotte (born 2015) is alive and well
- The title “Princess Charlotte of Wales” applies to both, 200 years apart
- Wikipedia and Royal Collection Trust maintain separate entries to avoid confusion
Timeline: Key dates in Princess Charlotte’s life
- : Born at St Mary’s Hospital, London (Royal.uk — official royal website)
- : Christened at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham (Britroyals — family record)
- : First public appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony (Britroyals — family record)
- : Accompanied parents to Canada for first official overseas tour (Britroyals — family record)
- : Served as bridesmaid at aunt Pippa Middleton’s wedding (Britroyals — family record)
- : Started nursery at Willcocks Nursery School
- : Started at Thomas’s Battersea School
- : Moved to Lambrook School with siblings (Biography.com — royalty profile)
- : Attended state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
- : Celebrated 10th birthday; official portrait released by Kensington Palace
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Frequently asked questions
What is Princess Charlotte’s full name?
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales — honoring her grandfather (Charles), great-grandmother (Elizabeth II), and grandmother (Diana, Princess of Wales) (Royal.uk — official royal website).
Who are Princess Charlotte’s godparents?
Her godparents include family friends and relatives: the Hon. Mrs. Michael Tindall (Zara Tindall’s sister-in-law), the Hon. Laura Fellowes (a cousin of Princess Diana’s), James Meade (a friend of Prince William), Adam Middleton (Catherine’s cousin), and others; a full list is published by Britroyals — family record.
What school does Princess Charlotte attend?
She attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, a co-educational prep school, alongside her brothers George and Louis (Biography.com — royalty profile).
Does Princess Charlotte have any pets?
The family has a cocker spaniel named Orla, adopted in 2020. Charlotte is reported to enjoy spending time with the dog at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk residence.
What is Princess Charlotte’s favorite color?
No official information has been released about her favorite color, though she has been seen wearing pink and purple dresses at public events.
What is Princess Charlotte’s role in the royal family?
As a child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, she is a working member of the royal family in waiting — she attends major state events but is not expected to carry out independent official duties until adulthood (Royal.uk — official royal website).
How is Princess Charlotte related to Queen Elizabeth II?
She is Queen Elizabeth II’s great-granddaughter — the queen was her father William’s grandmother (Britroyals — family record).
What is the difference between Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015) and the historical Princess Charlotte?
The modern Charlotte is William and Kate’s daughter, born 2015, alive and third in line. The historical Charlotte (1796–1817) was the only child of George IV, died in childbirth, and was the heir presumptive during George III’s reign (Royal Collection Trust — Georgian papers programme).
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Princess Charlotte of Wales is 10 years old, healthy, and growing up in a family that has carefully shaped her public image while fiercely protecting her private life. For anyone searching for answers about her death, the correct answer is: the princess is alive, but another Charlotte who held her same title died in childbirth 200 years ago. The confusion is natural — and the distinction matters.
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Edward Davies Bennett is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Insight Britain, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.