Happy Ninth Birthday, Princess Charlotte! 
Kensington Palace released a new photo of the Princess to mark the occasion. Here is the message accompanying the photograph on social media. 
The picture was taken by the Princess of Wales at Windsor—more on the setting from this Daily Mail piece.
The youngster appeared to pay a sweet homage to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as she posed alongside pale pink flowers named in her honour.
The blooms – known as Clematis montana var. rubens cultivar – are one of the first plants named after the monarch, as reported by Gardens Illustrated.
You can see how much the Princess has changed in the last year. 
Now, for a look back at the young Princess’s past year. Within days of her eighth birthday, we saw the Princess and her brothers at the coronation. Below, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a screen grab from a video celebrating the coronation. 
During the service at Westminster Abbey with her mother. 
The Princess on her way to Buckingham Palace with her mother, father, and brothers. 
Enjoying the flypast.
A funny face from the Princess as she watches Prince Louis. 
The Princess joined her older brother, mother, father, and many other relatives for the Coronation Concert in Windsor. 
Another view. 
The next day, we saw the Wales family participating in the Big Help Out. The family joined other volunteers renovating the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, outside London.
The Princess tried her hand at archery. 
And joined others in posing for a group photo. 
The next time we saw the Princess was at Trooping the Colour in June. 
The Wales children walk to their seats.
The Princess and her father on the Buckingham Palace balcony. 
The Princess and her brothers with their father in a photo released for Father’s Day. 
We saw the Princess during a family outing to an air show in mid-July. 
A few days later, the older Wales children attended Wimbledon with their parents. 
She met one of the police canines working at the tournament. 
This was the first time the Princess attended Wimbledon. 
On the way to her seat in the royal box. 
A wave for the crowd. 
The family was at the tournament for the Men’s Final match. 
Reacting to Prince George’s funny face. 
The Princess clearly enjoyed the match. 
Another view. 
The family watches the Princess of Wales during the trophy presentation. 
We did not see the Princess again until December. 
That was when all three Wales children attended the taping of “Royal Carols: Together At Christmas.”
The concert was taped at Westminster Abbey. 
We saw Princess Charlotte soon after the concert taping when a video was released showing the Wales children volunteering at a baby bank. 
They were at Baby Bank Windsor, which is not far from their home. 
They sorted clothing donations. 
And selected toys that would be Christmas gifts for children. 
The Princess attended Christmas Day church services at Sandringham. 
Here you see her with Mia Tindall. 
And with her mother. 
The children were in the family’s annual Christmas Card photo. The photos were taken by Josh Shinner. 
On Christmas Day, another image from the Christmas card shoot was released.
Here, you see the Princess in all of her birthday photos. 
And side by side with Prince George in his ninth birthday picture. 
In today’s photo, the Princess wears pieces by Cyrillus, a French brand, the Diamond Wool Cardigan (£42, no longer available), and the Dark Wash Denim Skirt (no longer available). 
Thank you to Found by Bojana and Royal Fashion Police for their ID work.
All best wishes to Princess Charlotte for a very Happy Birthday!
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Now for another piece in our collection of One-Hit Wonders, designs that made a strong style statement and/or were part of an exceptional look. Today, we’re looking at just one style, a Temperley London design worn during the 2012 Jubilee Tour. 
The occasion was a tea at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Kuala Lumpur.
The Duchess’s dress featured an intricately embroidered overlay atop a blue silk lining, creating the ‘Wedgewood” effect many thought of when first seeing the piece. 
The frock was based on Temperley’s ‘Aster Flower’ dress (seen below), a style from the Fall 2012 collection. In addition to the elegant embroidery, the dress features a boat neckline, flared skirt, and three-quarter sheer sleeves.
A closer look at the detail. 
The Duchess accessorized with her oft-worn ‘Sledge’ pumps and ‘Natalie’ clutch, both by LK Bennett. 
Her hair was up and adorned with faux pearls. 
All the better to see the UFO aquamarine and diamond earrings worn by the Duchess. 
In this photo, you see the Duke and Duchess at Kuala Lumpur’s airport. 
I will see you next week with several more One-Hit Wonders!
MaryH
Friday 3rd of May 2024
What a happy picture of Charlotte. Like many of you, I see a lot of William - and his paternal ancestry - in her features. (Whereas, with George, I see William from his maternal side.) Charlotte certainly seems to be a wonderfully confident tween. And I do love that Charlotte is wearing that cardigan - perhaps another quiet and classy statement of unyielding strength from Catherine after the "photo controversy."
As for this one-hit wonder, I cannot believe I had forgotten about it. She looks superb. The updo with the pearls, the makeup, and the dress itself - the color and lace - are exquisite. As previously mentioned, the specific lace pattern (esp around the chest) looks a little like spiders to me, but the concept overall is divine.
Interesting, as pointed out by someone (I didn't know this), that she was wearing this the day those intrusive pictures of her were released. I could imagine that that memory - plus the length being deemed too short for her title - may indeed mean we shall never see her in this lovely gown again.
Zell
Saturday 11th of May 2024
@MaryH,
You're very welcome! 💙
Zell
Saturday 11th of May 2024
@Bonnie,
I am so glad you see exotic flowers Bonnie, and I can see them too, more and more. 💙
MaryH
Monday 6th of May 2024
@Zell, Thank you so very much for your reply. I wholeheartedly agree - Catherine has always handled with her role with supreme dignity and grace, and how we hope she is holding up well during these immensely difficult times. Thank you again!!
Bonnie
Sunday 5th of May 2024
Zell, we all see things differently. Your spiders are my exotic flowers. :-)
Zell
Saturday 4th of May 2024
@MaryH,
"As previously mentioned, the specific lace pattern (esp around the chest) looks a little like spiders to me, but the concept overall is divine."
That was me who mentioned that about the lace, and then I felt it was not helpful to mention, given the strongly positive feelings so many have for this very lovely dress (and lovely to me, too, overall). However, your comments show me I'm not the only one who sees this, so I'm also kind of glad you wrote what you did.
I'm sad that Catherine had to endure such an intrusive and invasive breach of privacy, when those photos were unjustly taken and sold and then published. It really shows how taxing it can be, to be such a prominent person, always in the public eye.
I hope Catherine, who is undergoing what is, I fear, demanding - to put it mildly - treatments, for cancer, will also be able to have time for herself to be in restful and fulfilling (as much as possible) seclusion, away from the prying eyes of photographers who are using her to get rich, and the public who feeds too much off this kind of breach of privacy. It's just not right. She's just as human as anyone else, despite her position, and she shouldn't be treated like she's an object. This is also what Diana, the Princess of Wales, also had to deal with.
It makes me very sad. We love to see new photos of her and new outfits (or beautiful repeats) but everyone needs time away from it all, for themselves.
I honestly can't even begin to comprehend what she has had to deal with. And yet, she has dealt with it superbly. But some barriers shouldn't be transgressed and she deserves her down time and her privacy. She gave us the video statement that calmed fears and worries.
Now I hope she will recover...in her own time, and take all the time needed, and then do it again, whenever it may be necessary.
ElizaMo
Friday 3rd of May 2024
It’s delightful to see Charlotte continue to develop her best modelling pose, she seems to be quite the natural in front of the camera. She looks relaxed and stylish with a whiff of adolescent rebellion in those tangling strands of hair. Thanks for the lovely montage of her many expressions in front of the camera. My belated good wishes for her birthday
Thank you also for the reminder of that lovely Temperley dress, hard to believe it’s only been out the once, it looks as if it could be adapted for various royal occasions. the embroidery is exquisite. I remember my delight at the faux pearls popped into her updo, the whole effect so ladylike and demure. Those UFO aquamarine and diamond drop earrings are fabulous.
ElizaMo
Saturday 4th of May 2024
@Indie, I agree it has been beautifully crafted here by Temperley.
Indie
Saturday 4th of May 2024
@ElizaMo, I’m disappointed that we haven’t seen this one again. The lace is really striking. I know a young woman who used a similar lace-over-blue combo for her wedding dress. It was truly lovely!
Leslie
Friday 3rd of May 2024
Interestingly, Charlotte's cardigan looks to me like the same one she wore in the controversial Mother's Day pix (although different tops under it). Likewise, Louis looks like he repeated the same shirt for both pix. I love that lace dress Kate wore. I don't quite understand why a royal can't wear a shorter dress anymore? Is it her age, position? She looks so good in a slightly shorter dress.
Erin
Friday 3rd of May 2024
This is the one hit wonder I always think of. It is such a pretty dress. And I loved the pearls in her hair. I wish she had done stuff like that more often. This look was and still is one of my favorites!
Gayle
Thursday 2nd of May 2024
Catherine looks gorgeous in this icy blue Temperley dress, we'll probably never see it again unless Charlotte might wear it. I always love Catherine's elegant updos, the pearls were perfect. I also love the photo by Arthur Edwards of William and Catherine. Happy birthday Princess Charlotte!