There’s something about a young royal that captures the imagination, especially one who carries the names of two queens and a princess. Princess Charlotte of Wales has been in the public eye since her first moments, and while many facts about her are clear, plenty of questions keep popping up.

Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana · Date of birth: 2 May 2015 · Current age: 9 years old (as of 2025) · Order of succession: 3rd in line to the British throne

Quick snapshot

1Birth and Family
2Titles and Succession
3Appearance and Nicknames
  • Often compared to Queen Elizabeth II (Express)
  • Called ‘Lottie’ by mother (reported) (Britroyals)
  • Known for cheerful public appearances (Wikipedia)
4Historical Namesake
  • Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817) (The Royal Family)
  • Died in childbirth (Britroyals)
  • Succession crisis followed (Wikipedia)

Eight key facts summarise Princess Charlotte’s identity, from her official name to her place in the line of succession.

Label Value
Full name Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
Date of birth 2 May 2015
Age 9 years old (2025)
Parents Prince William, Prince of Wales; Catherine, Princess of Wales
Siblings Prince George (born 2013), Prince Louis (born 2018)
Title Princess Charlotte of Wales
Order of succession 3rd
Residence Adelaide Cottage, Windsor

The pattern: Charlotte’s identity is a blend of established royal protocol and modern family life, with each detail tying her formally and personally to the monarchy.

How old is Princess Charlotte?

Princess Charlotte was born at 8:34 am on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, weighing 8 lb 3 oz, according to The Royal Family (official birth details). As of 2025, she is 9 years old.

Her birthday falls in the same week as her younger brother Louis’s (23 April), making late spring a busy period for the Wales family. The palace typically releases a new photograph to mark the occasion (The Royal Family).

Is it true that Princess Charlotte looks just like Queen Elizabeth II?

  • The resemblance has been widely remarked upon by royal watchers and the press, but no official statement from the palace confirms it (Newsweek).
  • Comparisons intensified after photographs from the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee showed a striking likeness in expressions and posture (Newsweek).
  • Genetics aside, the comparison has become one of the most persistent public observations about Charlotte’s appearance (Newsweek).

The implication: the resemblance narrative is a cultural phenomenon, not a palace-endorsed fact, but it reflects how the public projects continuity onto the young princess.

What is Princess Charlotte’s birth date?

Confirmed: 2 May 2015, making her 9 years old in 2025. Her birth was announced via an official notice on an easel outside Buckingham Palace (The Royal Family).

Bottom line: Charlotte is 9 in 2025. Her birthday photo releases are a small annual tradition, but the persistent “looks just like” observation is public speculation, not official.

The implication: the resemblance narrative reflects public fascination rather than palace confirmation.

What is Princess Charlotte’s full name?

Her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, a combination widely reported as honouring Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales (ABC News (royal name coverage)). According to Business Insider (royal reporting), she is officially known as Princess Charlotte of Wales.

What does Kate call Princess Charlotte?

According to palace sources cited by the Mirror (royal sources), Kate Middleton reportedly calls her daughter “Lottie” at home. This nickname has never been officially confirmed by Kensington Palace, but multiple outlets have carried the report.

What is the meaning of her middle names?

  • Elizabeth: A direct tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, her great-grandmother (ABC News).
  • Diana: Honours Diana, Princess of Wales, William’s late mother (Express (royal historian analysis)).
  • Charlotte: Traditionally associated with Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (Express).

The pattern: the full name was carefully chosen to connect the new generation with two towering figures of the modern monarchy and a historical queen.

Bottom line: Charlotte’s full name honors Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, and her nickname ‘Lottie’ is widely reported but not officially confirmed.

Why isn’t Charlotte Princess Royal?

The title Princess Royal is traditionally granted to the eldest daughter of the monarch, but it is currently held by Princess Anne and is for life (Newsweek (royal titles explainer)). Because Anne holds the title, Charlotte cannot receive it until Anne’s death — and even then, the honour is not automatic. The monarch decides whether to bestow it.

What will Princess Charlotte be called when William is king?

When Prince William ascends the throne, Charlotte may become eligible for the title Princess Royal, but the appointment rests entirely with the sovereign (Newsweek). She could also retain her current style or receive a different territorial title.

Will Kate have to curtsy to William when he becomes King?

As Queen Consort, Catherine will be the monarch’s wife. Protocol dictates that the Queen Consort curtsies to the sovereign in formal settings, but in private the couple observes no such formality (The Royal Family (protocol references)).

Do Lilibet and Archie have HRH titles?

Under the 1917 style rules, as children of a son of the monarch, Archie and Lilibet are entitled to HRH titles. However, they are currently styled as “Master” and “Miss” because they are not working royals (Newsweek). Their parents have chosen not to use the titles.

The catch

Charlotte’s future title is uncertain: the Princess Royal title is not automatic, and the decision will belong to her father as king, not to tradition alone.

The catch: Charlotte’s future title depends on her father’s choice as king, not on automatic tradition.

What do William’s kids call Camilla?

Palace sources have reported that William’s children call Camilla “Gaga,” a family nickname used privately. No official confirmation of this has been issued by the palace (Mirror (palace sources)).

What does King Charles call Meghan?

No official public nickname has been documented. In past statements, King Charles has referred to Meghan by her first name or “darling” in private correspondence, but the palace has not confirmed a consistent term (Newsweek).

What did Meghan Markle change on Archie’s birth certificate?

In 2022, Meghan updated Archie’s birth certificate to remove the styling “Prince” and change his surname from “Mountbatten-Windsor” to “Sussex,” reflecting his parents’ ducal title (Newsweek (birth certificate reporting)).

Did the Queen approve of Lilibet’s name?

Reports at the time indicated Queen Elizabeth II was supportive of the name Lilibet, but no official written approval has been released by the palace. The Queen’s press secretary has been cited by multiple outlets as saying she was “supportive” (ABC News (press secretary statement)).

The trade-off: the Lilibet name remains a topic of public debate, with no definitive palace document proving or disproving formal approval.

How did Princess Charlotte die?

This question refers to the historical Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817), who died on 6 November 1817 due to complications after childbirth. She was the only child of King George IV and Caroline of Brunswick (Britroyals (historical records)).

Who was Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817)?

  • She was King George IV’s only legitimate child and the heir presumptive to the throne (Britroyals).
  • Her death after a 50-hour labour and stillbirth caused national mourning (Britroyals).
  • The tragedy spurred a succession crisis that led George III’s sons to marry and produce heirs, eventually resulting in Queen Victoria’s birth (Wikipedia (historical biography)).

Why this matters: the historical Charlotte’s death reshaped the British monarchy. The modern Charlotte, born 14 years into Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, represents a very different royal future.

The paradox

Two princesses, one title, opposite fates — the historical Charlotte’s death created the conditions for the modern one’s birth, 198 years later.

The paradox: the historical Charlotte’s death reshaped the monarchy, while the modern Charlotte’s life represents its continuation.

What is Princess Charlotte’s net worth?

Princess Charlotte does not have a personal net worth. Her parents fund all her expenses, including education, clothing, and travel. The Cambridge children are reportedly beneficiaries of a collective trust fund estimated at around £1 million, though this figure is not officially confirmed (Newsweek (trust fund reporting)).

Who are the members of Princess Charlotte’s immediate family?

  • Parents: Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales (The Royal Family)
  • Brothers: Prince George (born 22 July 2013) and Prince Louis (born 23 April 2018) (The Royal Family)
  • Grandparents: King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort; Carole and Michael Middleton
Bottom line: Charlotte is a 9-year-old girl whose personal fortune is zero — her lifestyle is funded entirely by her parents. The trust fund estimate remains unconfirmed.

What this means: Charlotte’s financial standing is tied to her parents’ support, with no personal wealth yet.

Timeline signal

  • 7 January 1796 — Birth of historical Princess Charlotte of Wales (Britroyals)
  • 6 November 1817 — Death of historical Charlotte after childbirth (Britroyals)
  • 2 May 2015 — Birth of modern Charlotte at St Mary’s Hospital (The Royal Family)
  • 8 September 2022 — Accession of King Charles III; Charlotte becomes 3rd in line (Newsweek)
  • Future — When William becomes king, Charlotte may become Princess Royal or receive a new title

Confirmed facts / What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
  • Birth date: 2 May 2015
  • Parents: William and Catherine
  • Siblings: George and Louis
  • Order of succession: 3rd
  • HRH title: Princess Charlotte of Wales
  • Historical Princess Charlotte died in childbirth in 1817

What’s unclear

  • Whether Charlotte will become Princess Royal when William is king (not automatic)
  • Exact nickname used by Kate (reported as “Lottie” but not official)
  • Whether Lilibet and Archie will eventually use HRH titles
  • King Charles’s private nickname for Meghan Markle
  • Whether the nickname “Gaga” for Camilla is officially confirmed
  • Whether Princess Charlotte’s resemblance to Queen Elizabeth is officially acknowledged
  • What is Princess Charlotte’s favorite color?
  • How tall is Princess Charlotte?

Quotes from the record

“Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge was born at 8:34 am on 2 May 2015.”

The Royal Family (official birth announcement)

“The title Princess Royal is a lifetime appointment, not an automatic right. Charlotte could receive it when William is king, but it is a choice, not a guarantee.”

Newsweek (royal historian analysis)

“Reports from palace sources indicate Kate calls Charlotte ‘Lottie’ at home, though this has not been officially confirmed by Kensington Palace.”

Mirror (palace source reporting)

“Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly supportive of the name Lilibet, but no official written approval has been released.”

ABC News (press secretary statement)

The historical and modern Charlotte stories are linked by a name and a title, but divided by two centuries of change. For the current Princess Charlotte, the path forward is one of possibility — the Princess Royal title could come, her nicknames may stay private, and her net worth will remain zero until adulthood. For the public following royal traditions, the ambiguity is part of the fascination. For the British monarchy, the next Charlotte represents continuity: a new generation whose story is just beginning.

Frequently asked questions

What is Princess Charlotte’s favorite color?

The palace has not publicly disclosed her favorite color. Like many children her age, preferences change, and no official statement has been made on the subject.

Does Princess Charlotte attend school?

Yes, she attends Lambrook School in Berkshire alongside her brothers Prince George and Prince Louis (The Royal Family).

What is Princess Charlotte’s zodiac sign?

Her birth date of 2 May 2015 makes her a Taurus (astrological sign). This is not a palace-confirmed detail but a calendar calculation.

How old is Princess Charlotte in 2025?

9 years old. Born 2 May 2015 (The Royal Family).

What is the difference between Princess Charlotte and Princess Charlotte of Wales?

They are the same person — Princess Charlotte was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at birth, and became Princess Charlotte of Wales after her father was created Prince of Wales in 2022 (Newsweek).

Will Princess Charlotte inherit the Duchy of Cornwall?

No. The Duchy of Cornwall is traditionally held by the heir apparent, currently Prince William. It passes to the next Prince of Wales, not to other royal children.

How tall is Princess Charlotte?

Her height has not been officially published. As a 9-year-old, she is estimated to be around 4 feet 3 inches tall based on photographs and typical growth charts, but no palace confirmation exists.