Princess Charlotte Kisses Prince Louis In New Photographs by Kate Middleton

A gentle kiss and a look of complete love: this is birthday girl Princess Charlotte enjoying a quiet moment with her new brother Prince Louis, as seen in one of two new photographs released by Kensington Palace, and taken by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

These are the first official pictures of the new fifth in line to the throne, born on March 23 in London and revealed to the public hours later in a photo call, but not seen since. The Duchess, who has also not been seen since she gave birth, photographed her newborn son when he was just three days old at the family home at Kensington Palace. Kate, a keen photographer, managed to capture her new born son while he was awake. Looking into the distance the blue-eyed baby looks alert and content as he rests against a cushion on a pink upholstered arm chair.

Duchess of Cambridge/PA Wire

In the second picture, released by Kensington Palace Saturday and taken on Princess Charlotte’s 3rd birthday, May 2, the little prince is fast asleep and is being cradled by his proud big sister, wearing a blue embroidered cardigan and with her hair pinned back in a ponytail.

Duchess of Cambridge/PA Wire

With a shock of dark hair and impressive eyebrows Louis is darker than Prince George when he was born, suggesting he might have inherited his mother’s brown hair. His blue eyes, however look more like Charlotte’s, suggesting he will be a perfect combination of both his mother and father. According to one family friend the little prince is a good sleeper although Kate is up every three to four hours for feeds. “George and Charlotte are thrilled to have a new baby. It has been a very exciting time for them all. Charlotte particularly adores Louis, to her he is like a real life doll. She is often by the Moses basket looking down and making sure he is OK. She’s very sweet with him and so is George.”

The fact that the siblings have already bonded may be a relief for Kate, who had been concerned that George and Charlotte might feel jealous with a new arrival taking up her attention. Both the prince and princess received presents from their new brother when he was born, and there were more gifts when the family celebrated Charlotte’s birthday with a small tea party last week.

Little Louis has been busy meeting his grandmother the Queen who helicoptered to Kensington Palace last week, while Prince Charles has also been to see his new grandson. A spokesman for the couple said when the photographs were released, “Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank members of the public for all of the kind messages they have received following the birth of Prince Louis, and for Princess Charlotte’s third birthday.”

It is unlikely that we will see Prince Louis in public until his christening. Kensington Palace has confirmed that the newborn royal will not be attending the royal wedding.

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Katie NichollKatie Nicholl, based in London, is Vanity Fair’s Royal Correspondent and author of, most recently, Harry Life Loss and Love.

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