Princess Charlotte's Birthday: Things To Know As The Royal Toddler Turns 2 [PHOTOS]

Daughter of Kate Middleton and Prince William, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge will celebrate her 2^nd birthday Tuesday. The royal couple has decided to keep their daughter’s birthday low-key, with just her closest family by her side.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to host a small birthday party at their Norfolk home for their daughter, who has been mostly away from the spotlight. She has only been photographed in public on a few occasions, including the September visit to Canada as part of a Royal Tour.

Charlotte was most recently pictured with her parents on Christmas Day while attending a service at St. Mark's Church in Berkshire, England. On May 1, Kensington Palace shared a rare picture of Princess Charlotte taken by her mother Kate Middleton.

“The Duke and Duchess are very pleased to share this photograph as they celebrate Princess Charlotte's second birthday. Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank everyone for all of the lovely messages they have received, and hope that everyone enjoys this photograph of Princess Charlotte as much as they do,” Kensington Palace wrote on its official Instagram account.

According to its caption, the photo was taken by the Duchess of Cambridge in April at the family's home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, England. The youngest member of the British Royal family was seen in a yellow knit cardigan with blue sheep lining its collar and a navy blue barrette clipped neatly into her shoulder length brown hair.

Prince William and Kate Middleton had also released pictures of Charlotte when she turned 1, and done the same for Prince George's first birthday. More of his pictures are expected when he turns 4 on July 22 this year.

The royals’ official portraits are usually taken by a designated photographer. In May 2015 however, soon after Princess Charlotte was born, Kate Middleton took official photographs of her children for the first time. She had also captured an image of Charlotte for her first birthday.

The queen's official photographer, Hugo Rittson Thomas, has praised the Duchess’ photography skills. In a 2016 interview with People, Rittson Thomas said, "I thought they were wonderful pictures, beautifully shot. She captured the joy, happiness and youth of her children which is a wonderful thing and sometimes hard to do as a parent."

This has become a tradition for the royal children, to be photographed inside the royal household and kept relatively away from public view by their parents.

Like her brother George, Princess Charlotte was also born at London's St. Mary's Hospital. It is a short drive away from the royals’ London home at Kensington Palace.

Charlotte was officially named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana at birth, in order to pay tribute to her late grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales, and her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. She is also called Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. According to the Royal Family's official website, the youngest member of the British Royal family is fourth in line to the throne, behind her grandfather Prince Charles, her father Prince William and her brother Prince George.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with their children will likely spend more time in their London home in the upcoming days as Prince William will be taking up more royal duties and Prince George, who will turn 4 this year, will start to prepare for school in the fall.

Charlotte and George will also be seen publicly soon, as Charlotte will reportedly be a bridesmaid at the May 20 wedding of her aunt Pippa Middleton. Three-year-old Prince George is also expected to appear in the wedding as a page boy.