Princess Charlotte of Cambridge: Best of 2019
At only four years old, Princess Charlotte has already made her mark on history and 2019 was one of her most eventful years yet. She showed off her signature royal wave at Trooping the Colour in June, began her first year of primary school and finished the year by joining the rest of the royal family on Christmas Day.
Here are my top ten moments from the Royal family's youngest princess.
10. Kings Power Polo Match
While it is not an official appearances for the young royals, over the past few summers it has become a tradition for Catherine to bring her children to the charity polo matches that Prince William competes in. This year, Princess Charlotte was seen playing football with her older brother and enjoying snacks that her mother brought in the car. It's always so wonderful to see the Cambridge children in more relaxed environments.
They obviously enjoy playing with one another and Princess Charlotte certainly held her own playing football against her older brother. After the match a photo was released of Charlotte with her siblings and father where she was seen holding an adorable unicorn coin purse, which has become known as her favorite animal as she was also seen with a unicorn keychain on her first day of school. This appearance was also incredibly special since it was the first time we were able to see George, Charlotte and Louis with their new cousin, Archie.
9. Berry Royal Christmas Special
Princess Charlotte did not make an official appearance on the special that her parents did with Mary Berry but we were given some updates about the Princess from her parents that was completely adorable. Catherine revealed that Charlotte love Charlotte Potatoes while talking to Mary Berry about some of the kids favorite foods. It was also revealed that Catherine makes all of the birthday cakes for the children, sometimes staying up until midnight to make it special. Prince William then revealed that they actively try and educate the Cambridge children by pointing out and explaining things like homelessness on the school run.
8. Burnham Horse Trials
Another unofficial but still completely adorable appearance came in April with Charlotte and George joined their cousins at the Burnham Horse Trials. Princess Charlotte was seen riding on her mother's shoulders and playing bumper cars while her father's cousin, Zara Phillips, competed in the trials.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, understandably, minimize their children's public appearances in order to give them privacy. Fans are usually lucky to get one or two unofficial appearances like this from the Cambridge children a year, so seeing them here, at the regatta and at Polo in the summer was very exciting.
7. Cambridge Christmas Card
The Cambridges released two new photos for Christmas this year, both of which were completely adorable. After their first card was shared early online which showed the family posing on a motorbike and sidecar. Princess Charlotte wore an adorable black or navy checkered dress as she stood next to Prince George in the sidecar. Her father held Prince Louis on the motorbike while Catherine posed next to them.
They then released a second card taken by the Duchess of Cambridge at their home in Norfolk. In the second photo, Charlotte was with her brothers and father as she lovingly watched over Prince Louis placing her hands on her little brothers shoulder. She was wearing an outfit similar to what she wore at the horse trials earlier in the year which included a plaid skirt and jacket.
6. Fourth Birthday Portraits
This year was probably my favorite of Princess Charlotte's birthday portraits (even though I say that every year). The Duchess of Cambridge took the three photographs that were released at their home in Norfolk and Charlotte seemed to love the camera. In one image she was running and playing with flowers while wearing a plaid dress and grey sweater.
She was in the same outfit as she posed sitting on a wooden fence before opting for a blue floral smock dress for the final shot. In the last portrait she sat smiling at the camera while showing off some blue trainers. Throughout the years, Charlotte's personality has begun to show through during several of her appearances and the portraits seemed to match her playful demeanor perfectly.
5. Kings Cup Regatta
This summer marked the first annual Kings Cup Regatta held by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in support of eight of the charities they are involved with. Prince George and Princess Charlotte came to support their parents along with their grandparents, Carole and Michael Middleton. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge demonstrated their sailing skills and Prince George showed off his missing front teeth, it was Princess Charlotte who once again stole the show.
After spotting her Grandfather in the crowd, the little Princess stuck her tongue out and got major laughs from the watching crowd. Her mother laughed, quickly shuffling her down the stairs to a more private area where her Grandmother was.
4. Back to Nature Garden
The Back to Nature Gardens were an amazing summer project that the Duchess of Cambridge took on this year to raise awareness for early years and the importance of reconnecting with nature. Before the garden opened at RHS Chelsea, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought their three children to play and explore the garden that the Duchess co-designed.
In a video released by Kensington Palace, fans got to see the family of five interacting all together for the first time. George and Charlotte played on the rope swing, climbed trees and got a little wet in a little creek. Being able to see the family in relaxed environments like this is so incredible and gives fans a small glimpse of what they are like as a family outside of their official duties.
3. Trooping the Colour
The Queen's annual birthday parade is always a favorite of mine for several reasons. It's usually one of the few occasions we are able to see the entire family together and the pomp and circumstance of the parade is always fun to watch. This was Charlotte's third time on the balcony and she proved to be a pro at it yet again. She waved at the crowd, unintimidated by the thousands that had gathered and seemed to enjoy the flyover almost as much as her older brother.
2. Christmas Day Walk
For the first time, Princess Charlotte and Prince George joined their mother and father for the annual walk to Christmas Day service at Sandringham. While the young royals seemed to be trying to get a grasp on the event this year, they both did wonderfully, greeting members of the public and receiving gifts and flowers from them. Both Prince William and Prince Harry first joined their parents on Christmas Day at roughly the same age and fans were delighted to see them turn up this year.
Princess Charlotte wore a green double breasted coat and black tights which coordinated with her mothers emerald green fascinator, shoes and clutch. She seemed particularly fond of a pink blow up flamingo and some tulips that were given to her, even giving a member of the public a hug after she was given the gift.
1. First Day of School
My personal favorite moment from the year was Princess Charlotte's first day at Thomas Battersea Day School. She joined her brother this year who began at Thomas's two years ago and looked completely adorable (like always) in her school uniform. Her mother and father were able to be there to drop her off and she met the headmistress of the school before going in. Kensington Palace released photos that the Duchess of Cambridge had taken at their home before they left for school and it was possibly my favorite portrait the Duchess has taken of her children.
If you have any other favorite moments from Princess Charlotte this year, leave a comment below!