Princess Charlotte: Age, Nicknames, and Royal Titles

There’s something about a 10-year-old royal who manages to steal the spotlight at Trooping the Colour and still be known as “Lottie Wales” in the school playground. Princess Charlotte turned 10 on 2 May 2025 (InStyle (celebrity news)), and with that milestone came fresh curiosity about her full name, her place in the line of succession, and whether she might one day inherit a historic title.

Full name: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales · Age: 10 (as of 2025) · Birth date: 2 May 2015 · Parents: Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales · Place in line: 3rd in line to the British throne · Title: Princess of Wales

Seven key facts drawn from official records and trusted reporting paint a consistent picture.

What is happening with Princess Charlotte?

Recent public appearances

• Attended Trooping the Colour 2023 (People (royal news coverage))
• Appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the VE Day commemoration on 5 May 2025 (People (royal news coverage))
• Has been seen at family events including Christmas church services and royal birthday celebrations

Upcoming milestones

• Transition to secondary school likely in 2027-2028, following the pattern of her brother Prince George: Age, School, and Royal Milestones Explained
• First solo public engagements may begin in her early teens, as is tradition for senior royals

Media coverage and portraits

• Her 10th birthday portrait was released by Kensington Palace on 2 May 2025 (InStyle (celebrity news))
• Marie Claire reported she is already “carving out her own style aesthetic” (Marie Claire (royal style coverage))
• For a detailed look at her older brother’s journey, see Prince George at Age 12: Rules, School & Succession

The pattern: Charlotte is growing up in the public eye while her parents manage a deliberate balance between normal childhood and royal duty.

Why is Princess Charlotte not Princess Royal?

The title Princess Royal

• Traditionally given to the eldest daughter of the monarch (Countryfile (royal affairs reporting))
• It is the highest honour a female member of the royal family can receive
• The title is not automatically inherited – it is bestowed by the sovereign

Historical holders of the title

• Princess Anne currently holds the title Princess Royal (People (royal news coverage))
• Previous holders include Princess Mary (daughter of George V) and Princess Victoria (daughter of Edward VII)
• Each holder has kept the title for life

Why Charlotte cannot inherit it automatically

• She is not the eldest daughter of the current monarch (King Charles III) – Princess Anne holds that role (Countryfile (royal affairs reporting))
• The title can only pass after the current holder’s death or resignation, and even then the sovereign decides (YouTube (royal commentary))
• One 2025 report noted that Charlotte could even decline the title if it were offered (People (royal news coverage))

What this means: Charlotte’s path to the Princess Royal title depends on the death of Princess Anne, the decision of the future monarch (likely William), and perhaps even Charlotte’s own wishes. That is a long chain of uncertainties.

What does Prince William call Princess Charlotte?

Nicknames used by William and Kate

• Prince William has reportedly called her “Mignonette” (a French term of endearment) in private conversations (Daily Mirror (UK royal press))
• Kate Middleton has used the nickname “Lottie” during public engagements (Daily Mirror (UK royal press))
• Both parents also use “Charlotte” in formal settings

Public and private names

• At school, her friends reportedly use “Lottie Wales” (Daily Mirror (UK royal press))
• In official court circulars, she is referred to as “Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales”

How Charlotte is addressed in the family

• According to a 2025 IMDB News report, the nickname “Lottie Wales” has also been used in classroom settings (IMDb News (entertainment reporting))
• The family reportedly uses a range of affectionate names, reflecting a normal home environment

The trade-off: while the palace projects a formal public image, the nicknames hint at a family that strives for a private, affectionate domestic life – a detail that resonates with many parents.

What happened to Princess Charlotte during childbirth?

The historical Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817)

• She was the only child of the future King George IV (Wikipedia (historical encyclopedia))
• She died on 6 November 1817 after giving birth to a stillborn son
• Her death devastated the nation and plunged the royal succession into crisis

Details of her childbirth and death

• She went into labour after 50 hours; the baby was stillborn
• Charlotte herself died from post-partum haemorrhage the following day
• The attending physicians were heavily criticised for their handling of the birth

Legacy and impact on royal succession

• Her death prompted a race among George III’s sons to produce a legitimate heir, leading to the birth of Victoria (Wikipedia (historical encyclopedia))
• Without this tragedy, Queen Victoria would never have ascended the throne
• The modern Princess Charlotte (born 2015) was named partly in honour of this historical figure (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database))

Why this matters: the name Charlotte carries the weight of a tragic royal story. But the modern princess lives in a world where such maternal deaths are virtually unheard of in the UK – a medical and social shift that separates her from her namesake by more than two centuries.

How old is Princess Charlotte?

Birth date and age

• Born 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, London (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database))
• She turned 10 years old on 2 May 2025 (InStyle (celebrity news))

Comparison with siblings

• Older brother Prince George was born 22 July 2013 (now 11)
• Younger brother Prince Louis was born 23 April 2018 (now 7)
• She is the only daughter of William and Catherine (People (royal news coverage))

Upcoming birthday milestones

• Age 11 in 2026 – likely to mark important school transition
• Age 12 in 2027 – could begin taking on minor solo engagements
• Age 18 in 2033 – may start performing official royal duties

The catch: age milestones for royal children are both celebratory and strategic – each year brings them closer to more formal public roles, even as their parents try to preserve their privacy.

Timeline: Key moments in Princess Charlotte’s life

• 2 May 2015 – Born at St Mary’s Hospital, London (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database))
• 5 July 2015 – Christened at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham (People (royal news coverage))
• September 2017 – First day of school at Thomas’s Battersea
• 2023 – Attended first Trooping the Colour ceremony
• 2 May 2025 – Celebrated 10th birthday (InStyle (celebrity news))
• 5 May 2025 – Appeared on Buckingham Palace balcony for VE Day commemoration (People (royal news coverage))

“Princess Charlotte is growing up with poise and a fierce spirit.”

— People (royal news coverage) (source)

“Charlotte is clearly carving out her own style aesthetic at just 10 years old.”

— Marie Claire (royal style coverage) (source)

For the monarchy, the balancing act between tradition and modern childhood is something they have navigated before, but Charlotte’s generation is already showing it can hold both. The next decade will test whether a future Princess Royal can emerge while still being known as Lottie Wales in the schoolyard.

Frequently asked questions