Princess Charlotte's 9th birthday portrait quietly continued a beloved royal tradition

Princess Charlotte’s birthday now comes with a familiar ritual.

A new photo is taken, and the portrait offers a small update, and often, Catherine is behind the camera.

That is exactly what happened on 2 May 2024, when the Prince and Princess of Wales released an image to celebrate Charlotte's ninth birthday. In it, the young princess was pictured with pink flowers, wearing a red cardigan, navy jumper, floral top and denim skirt, and smiling for the camera. The photograph, according to the Associated Press, was taken by Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and was released through the couple's social media channels.





Although the photograph itself was a simple birthday picture, it also marked the continuation of a well-established tradition within the Wales children.

A birthday ritual royal fans expect
The tradition of children in the royal family having their birthday portraits released on their special days is far from new. What has become the hallmark of the past ten years, however, is the style and nature of these photographs.

Instead of sticking solely to the official palace photographers, the Prince and Princess of Wales have often opted for photographs that appear more personal and informal.

This birthday portrait, as detailed by CBS News, was released with a simple wish for Charlotte's ninth birthday, with nothing more added.

The photographs often combine an official release and family snapshot.

The woman behind the camera
Another thing about these portraits was the Catherine’s role behind the camera.

For years now, the Princess of Wales has taken photographs of her children for their birthday portraits. Her interest in photography is well known, and she has long supported projects highlighting the importance of images in recording family life.

Therefore, the fact that Charlotte's birthday portrait was taken by Catherine, rather than an official royal photographer, has maintained a sense of continuity. Catherine took her daughter's birthday picture, and this detail is frequently highlighted in media coverage of the portraits, because it is a photograph of Charlotte, taken by her mother.

Why these images captivate
Royal photographs, although often a huge source of interest, carry a different kind of meaning from birthday pictures.

They are neither about a grand constitutional event nor an official meeting, but instead represent milestones of the child's upbringing. Public appearances by Charlotte remain relatively limited and are generally connected to major royal events.

The birthday portrait seems to give us a quick update on her growth. Media coverage often focuses on how Charlotte's appearance has changed since previous birthday portraits. This has been repeated with every birthday portrait so far.

A modern take on royal communication
The release of this photograph also demonstrates the evolving methods of communication in the royal household.

Gone are the days when only newspapers, television broadcasters, or the royal press offices were the primary sources of information; social media now plays a much larger role alongside traditional media and royal press offices. The birthday photograph was released through the Prince and Princess of Wales' own social media accounts.

This direct approach allows the family greater control over how the images are presented to the public.

The first impression of the photograph is of their choice. The immediate widespread accessibility is also a far cry from the days when official photographers' prints would only filter through to us at a much later stage.

A small tradition that has now been sustained for years
In the grand scheme of royal life, a birthday photograph is quite a small occurrence in comparison with some of the other rituals the royal family participates in; there are no royal speeches or parades to accompany it. Yet the annual release has become a regular feature of the royal calendar.

Charlotte's birthday photograph was an affirmation of this, warm and uncomplicated and focused on the birthday girl herself.

Perhaps it is because of this that we are so keen to see these images; they provide us with a very rare aspect of modern public life, a simple moment that requires nothing from us and is essentially just a brief celebration of a passage of another year.

For royal followers, this has been enough: a photograph, a message, and a glimpse into the life of a young royal.

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