Celebrity News

Sweet portraits of George & Charlotte

The heartfelt bond between George & Charlotte was clear in the Duchess' own photographs.
Prince George & Princess Charlotte

It happens in households all over the world. Mums and dads prop their kids up on the sofa, making sure the newborn is safely nestled in the toddler’s arms, then take dozens of photographs, hoping to capture a precious moment of tenderness between the two siblings. The pictures are put on social media so others can “ooh” and “ahh” over how sweet the pair are together, and the proud parents take great delight in seeing all the comments they inspire.

That’s what happened with these pictures taken of 22-month-old Prince George and his little sister, Princess Charlotte, who was then a few weeks old. But in their case, the photos provided the whole world with the chance to coo over the siblings and, within a matter of hours, hundreds of thousands of people had liked, shared, re-tweeted and commented on the shots.

The heart-melting snaps were taken by George and Charlotte’s mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, a keen amateur photographer who obviously couldn’t resist the opportunity to take official photographs of her children. Releasing the images has helped to quell the demand for more pictures of Charlotte, who had only been glimpsed once since her birth on May 2. That was outside the London hospital where she was born.

These are the first photos of her with her big blue eyes open, and she seems very alert and intrigued by what’s going on. George, meanwhile, appears protective of his little sister, despite the fact that she has probably turned his world upside down. In one especially adorable shot, George is giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead, while Charlotte, looks straight down the lens at her mum, her face a picture of contentment.

In another picture, George gazes lovingly at his sister, while a third shows him giving his best smile, no doubt encouraged by Kate. In the final shot, both George and Charlotte look off into the distance, apparently distracted by something – or someone. It is likely that Prince William was there to help out.

The photos were taken at William and Kate’s country home, Anmer Hall, where the family has been tucked away since shortly after Charlotte’s birth. Royal insiders say Kate wanted the pictures to be low-key, which is why she took the photos herself, using a Canon digital camera, rather than hiring a professional.

The fact they’ve been happy to forgo a lavish photoshoot with both children for their own shots is typical of a couple who are doing their utmost to bring their children up in surroundings that are decidedly un-regal. The first official shots of George – other than those taken outside St Mary’s Hospital the day after he was born – were taken by his granddad, Michael Middleton. Another set of pictures released publicly, which show George sitting on steps at Kensington Palace, were the work of Prince Harry’s private secretary Edward Lane Fox. Until recently, the only time George had been snapped by a large group of photographers was during his tours to New Zealand and Australia in April 2014.

The puzzled look on the toddler’s face when he was confronted by dozens of photographers on his way to meet his little sister, is indicative of how unused he is to being in the media spotlight. At almost two, he’s still too young to appreciate that he was born into a very famous family. So not only have the photos been a chance to see Charlotte, but they’ve also given royal fans an idea of how quickly George is growing up.

The Sun newspaper’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards says Kate has done a great job of photographing the pair. “Make no mistake, these are great photos,” says Arthur. “They are naturally shot and perfectly lit, with the light seeming to come from an open window.” He says the photos are better than those Michael Middleton shot of Kate and William with George when he was just a few weeks old.

“Kate seems to have taken advice from a professional because these images are so natural and beautifully cropped. It is also clear they have not been photoshopped to enhance their appearance.” He says the shots are not perfect. “But they have been taken by the children’s mother. Her love for the children shines through.”

Judy Kean

Royal Portrait of Princess Charlotte and_Prince

Duchess Kate has shared some sweet photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

G_zw2515roybabs_Rex_Royal_Portrait_of_Princess_Charlotte_and_Prince_4826556B

These are the first photos of Princess Charlotte with her big blue eyes open. She seems very alert and intrigued by what’s going on.

G_zw2515roybabs_Rex_Royal_Portrait_of_Princess_Charlotte_and_Prince_4826556A

The photos were taken at William and Kate’s country home, Anmer Hall.

G_zw2515roybabs_Rex_Royal_Portrait_of_Princess_Charlotte_and_Prince_4826556D

The Sun newspaper’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards says Kate has done a great job of photographing the pair. “Make no mistake, these are great photos,” says Arthur.

P_zw2515roybabs_GettyImages-176931717

Michael Middleton took the Cambridges’ first family portrait soon after little George’s arrival.

G_zw2515roybabs_28149724

Kate’s gorgeous photographs echo William’s cradling of his younger brother in the first official portrait of Harry.

Related stories