
Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, celebrated her tenth birthday last week. To mark the milestone, the royal couple released a candid photo taken by her mother, Kate, on an iPhone.
The photo captured Charlotte’s adventurous spirit, showing her beaming outdoors in a leaf-patterned Jack Pyke waterproof camouflage jacket and a backpack, her long hair swept back in a ponytail.
According to royal commentator Phil Dampier, speaking to HELLO!, Charlotte possesses a maturity beyond her years and has been “a great source of strength” to her mother during Kate’s ongoing cancer treatment.
Dampier also notes that Charlotte seems to reflect qualities from both her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and her great-aunt, the Princess Royal.
“Winston Churchill once said of Queen Elizabeth that he had never seen such maturity in a child so young, and Charlotte seems to have inherited that trait from her great-grandmother, to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance,” he explains.
“I’m told that Charlotte has also inherited from the late Queen a brilliant ability to mimic prominent figures.
“She’s a kind soul with a reputation for being feisty and keeping her brothers under control.”

Along with the likeness in appearance, Charlotte also seems to share her great-grandmother’s energetic nature. Queen Elizabeth II was passionate about country life and even served in the women’s army unit, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, during World War II.
Charlotte’s birthday portrait revealed a side of her not often seen in previous images, where she typically appeared in dresses or formal outfits at royal events. This year, William and Kate broke tradition by presenting her in camouflage attire.
“Charlotte certainly looks ready for action; it’s great to see her looking so informal and relaxed, and clearly having a wonderful time,” said HELLO! royal editor Emily Nash.
“We know how strongly Kate advocates for children to spend time in nature, and it’s also how the royals choose to spend their holidays, particularly when they go to Balmoral.