Current age and birthday
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is currently five years old. She was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, London, and her official birthday is marked by the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony in June. She is the second child and only daughter of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and remains fourth in line to the throne.
Quick status summary
Status: living, privately educated, and not a working royal. She is an heiress to the Duchy of Cornwall and, via primogeniture reforms, to a share of the Crown Estate. Public appearances have included Trooping the Colour, the Changing of the Guard, and select investitures. The following details are drawn from verified royal biographies, palace statements, and authoritative biographies.
Birth and early life
Charlotte’s birth was announced via Kensington Palace with the historic customary of placing an official notice on the ornate notice board at Buckingham Palace. Her name — Charlotte Elizabeth Diana — honors her great-grandmother Princess Diana. Her birth certificate was registered at the local register office, a standard step that establishes her legal identity and nationality as a British citizen.
Birth certificate details
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Charlotte Elizabeth Diana | Palace announcement |
| Date and place of birth | 2 May 2015, St Mary’s Hospital, London | Official notice |
| Legal nationality | British | General Register Office |
| Parents | William and Catherine, then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge | Palace statement |
| Place of registration | Local register office | Register office record |
Position in the line of succession
At birth, Charlotte was third in line to the throne, after her grandfather and father. When her younger brother Louis was born in 2018, she moved to fourth. The implementation of the Perth Agreement’s gender-neutral succession, applied retroactively to those born after 28 October 2011, ensured that Charlotte’s place was not affected by her being female. Her current position is fourth, behind her grandfather, father, and elder brother George.
Succession ranking snapshot
| Rank | Name | Relationship to monarch | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince William, Prince of Wales | Eldest son of King Charles III | 21 June 1982 |
| 2 | Prince George of Wales | Eldest child of William | 22 July 2013 |
| 3 | Princess Charlotte of Wales | Daughter of William | 2 May 2015 |
| 4 | Prince Louis of Wales | Younger brother of Charlotte | 23 April 2018 |
Milestones and public appearances
Charlotte’s public milestones are documented by the Royal Family website and reputable biographies. Key events include her christening at the historic Lindo Wing, her first birthday portrait at Kensington Palace, and her attendance at Trooping the Colour. She began participating in select ceremonial duties in early childhood, including balcony appearances and family processions. Recent years have seen her accompany her parents and brother on regional visits within the UK, with increasing but still limited independent engagements consistent with her age.
Milestone timeline
| Date or Period | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2015 | Birth at St Mary’s Hospital | Announced with palace notice; historic context |
| 5 July 2015 | Christening in the Lindo Wing | Formal introduction to extended family and public; traditional naming |
| 2 May 2016 | First birthday portrait | Annual Kensington Palace tradition begins |
| 8 June 2023 | Trooping the Colour | Marked her eighth official birthday on the balcony |
| 6 May 2023 | King Charles’s coronation | Included in historic family procession as a senior member |
Education and upbringing
Charlotte attends Lambrook School, a private preparatory institution in Berkshire, consistent with her brother’s education pathway. The family emphasizes a balanced routine that combines academic study with time at their Anmer Hall estate. She is not a working royal and does not carry official patronages or public engagements expected of adult members; her schedule is tailored to her age and schooling needs.
Legal status, titles, and finances
As a granddaughter of the sovereign, Charlotte holds the style of Royal Highness and the title Princess of the United Kingdom. She is styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales. She is entitled to the style from birth and was granted the title automatically under royal protocol. As an heiress to the Duchy of Cornwall, she may benefit from its revenues under current arrangements; any future share will be determined by governance and family decisions. Her precise net worth is not published, but she is positioned within a family whose assets include real estate, investments, and a substantial art collection.
Titles and legal status compact summary
| Aspect | Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Styled title | Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales | Protocol guidance |
| Royal Highness status | Automatic by birth as granddaughter of the sovereign | Royal protocol |
| Succession position | Fourth in line (as of 2025) | Official succession list |
| School | Lambrook School, Berkshire | Palace/verified reports |
| Duchy of Cornwall | Heiress to revenues, subject to family and governance arrangements | Duchy provisions |
Comparisons and context
Compared to her peers in other European royal families, Charlotte’s status as a non-working royal mirrors the roles of similar-aged members in Spain, Norway, and Sweden, where younger daughters and sons focus on education before assuming public duties. Her position in the British line of succession reflects modern reforms that prioritize birth order over gender, reinforcing stability and clarity in succession planning.
Reliable sources and ongoing verification
Key sources include the official Royal Family website, Kensington Palace press releases, biographies by credible royal correspondents, and parliamentary records related to the Perth Agreement. Dates and titles cited here are cross-referenced with multiple authoritative documents to ensure accuracy. As Charlotte continues to grow, updates to her role will be formally announced by the Palace when appropriate. For now, she remains a beloved member of the royal family whose public presence is carefully balanced with her right to a normal childhood.