Princess Charlotte is celebrating her fourth birthday today, no doubt surrounded by family. To commemorate the day Kensington Palace has released three never-before-seen pictures of the young princess – taken by her mother Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge is a keen photographer and just a week ago released images of Prince Louis, taken for his first birthday.

Queen Elizabeth II was delighted to have a granddaughter in Princess Charlotte, as Kate told the Our Queen at Ninety documentary: “It’s very special having a new little girl…I feel very, very lucky that George has got a little sister.

“The Queen was really thrilled that it was a little girl, and I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington she was one of our first visitors here.”

Princess Charlotte may not yet realise the impact she has had on the Royal Family, but a major change was made when Prince Louis was born that will have major implications for the young royals.

Princess Charlotte is the first girl to remain in her position to the throne despite the birth of a younger brother.

Read More: Princess Charlotte: Why is the royal always styled in dresses?

Prince George, five, is third in line to the throne after his father Prince William, and grandfather Prince Charles.

When Charlotte was born she became fourth in line to the throne.

But ordinarily, a younger brother would have taken this place and she would have slipped to fifth in the line of succession.

However, the Succession of the Crown Act which came into force in 2013 prevented this from happening.

This act made it so the line of succession to the crown is not based on gender, placing Charlotte ahead of younger brother Louis in a major step for equality within the Royal Family.

The act repealed the Royal Marriages Act 1772, replacing male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture for those born in the line of succession after 28 October 2011.

This meant the eldest child, regardless of sex, would precede his or her brothers and sisters.

Princess Charlotte has often captured the hearts of fans when making royal appearances with her family.

The cheeky youngster is unafraid to wave at waiting crowds, smiling as she turned up to the Lindo Wing to visit her mum and new baby Prince Louis last year.

At Princess Eugenie’s wedding on October 12, 2018, Charlotte was again seen waving at the crowds, grinning as she made her way down the steps to St George’s Chapel.

In a sweet candid photo after the wedding, Eugenie, new husband Jack and the bridesmaids and pageboys can all be seen laughing.

Princess Charlotte is in the centre of the photo, holding flowers and appearing to be in fits of laughter.

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