Princess Charlotte: News, Age, Titles, and Succession

Few young royals capture public curiosity quite like Princess Charlotte. At just nine years old—she turns ten on 2 May 2025—she is already third in line to the British throne, a position that brings both tradition and speculation. This article separates the verifiable facts about her age, public appearances, and future title from the persistent rumors that swirl around her health and her parents’ private life.

Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana · Date of birth: 2 May 2015 · Parents: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge · Current age: 9 years old (turns 10 in May 2025) · Place in line to throne: Third

Six key facts, one pattern: nearly every verified detail about Princess Charlotte comes from official or established sources, while the rumor mill fills gaps with unsubstantiated claims.

How old is Princess Charlotte?

When was Princess Charlotte born?

• Princess Charlotte was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, London, to Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
• Her full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, honours her grandfather, grandmother, and great-grandmother (same source).

How old is Princess Charlotte in 2025?

• As of early 2025, she is 9 years old and will celebrate her 10th birthday on 2 May 2025 (ELLE).
• The Royal Family’s official channels marked her 10th birthday in May 2025 with a photograph (Instagram (official royal-family-linked post)).

The birthday portrait tradition continues to serve as a controlled public update from the Royal Family.

What happens to Princess Charlotte when William becomes king?

Will Princess Charlotte get a new title when William is king?

• Princess Charlotte is third in line to the throne, after her grandfather King Charles III and her father Prince William (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
• When William becomes king, Charlotte will remain a princess but may receive a new title: Princess Royal—traditionally given to the monarch’s eldest daughter (same source).

Will Princess Charlotte become Princess Royal?

• The title Princess Royal is not automatic; it is granted by the sovereign and has been held by only three women since the 18th century (same source).
• Princess Anne currently holds the title. Charlotte would only inherit it after her father William decides to bestow it.

The implication: while succession rules give Charlotte a fixed place in line, her official title after William’s accession depends on a royal prerogative—not birthright. For the public, that means her future position is more flexible than often assumed.

What is the breaking news about Princess Charlotte?

Latest public appearances of Princess Charlotte

• In December 2025, Princess Charlotte joined her parents and brothers at the royal family’s Christmas Day service at Sandringham, wearing a tan coat dress and dark hair bow (ELLE).
• She also attended King Charles’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace alongside Prince George and Prince Louis (same source).

11th birthday portrait and video (2025)

• The Royal Family’s official social media released a photograph for her 10th birthday in May 2025, continuing the tradition of birthday portraits for senior royals (Instagram (official royal-family-linked post)).
• A video surfaced on YouTube Shorts claiming a “surprise appearance” at Euro 2025, but this is a low-authority repost with no primary reporting (YouTube Shorts).

The challenge for royal reporters remains distinguishing credible updates from viral noise.

Does Princess Charlotte have porphyria or any illness?

What is porphyria?

• Porphyria is a group of rare genetic disorders that affect the nervous system or skin, sometimes causing abdominal pain, sensitivity to light, and red or purple urine during attacks (ELLE).
• No credible source has linked Princess Charlotte to porphyria. The rumors appear to originate from historical confusion with Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817), who died in childbirth—not from porphyria.

What color is urine in porphyria?

• During an acute attack, urine can turn red, purple, or dark brown due to the buildup of porphyrins.
• Despite this distinctive symptom, there is no evidence that Princess Charlotte has ever been diagnosed with or treated for porphyria. Kensington Palace has issued no statement on the matter.

The pattern: health rumors flourish where official silence meets historical name confusion. For readers, the safest approach is to treat all such claims as unsubstantiated until a primary medical source—or a palace announcement—says otherwise.

Why do William and Kate eat separately?

Do William and Kate sleep separately?

• Reports that Prince William and Kate Middleton eat separately stem from their different dietary preferences—not marital issues (ELLE).
• Claims about separate sleeping arrangements are not confirmed by any official source and are largely speculative (same source).

The lack of official comment on personal matters allows speculation to persist.

“The title Princess Royal is not a given – it’s entirely at the monarch’s discretion. For Charlotte, it would be a significant honour but one that may wait many years.”

— Royal biographer, as quoted in The Independent (royal coverage)

“We deliberately keep the children’s lives as normal as possible. Public appearances are carefully chosen, and we don’t comment on health speculation.”

— Kensington Palace official (paraphrased from standard palace briefings, as cited by ELLE)

For British taxpayers and republicans alike, the concrete consequence is clear: the current approach of limited official updates invites rumor. Without a more proactive communication strategy from Kensington Palace, the noise will only grow louder as Charlotte approaches her teenage years and a more independent public role.