Princess Charlotte looks 'assertive and elegant' in new picture taken by Kate to mark her ninth birthday, body language expert claims

Princess Charlotte is celebrating her ninth birthday today with a special image taken by her mother, the Princess of Wales. 

In the photo released this morning, Charlotte displays her cheeky grin and flowing blonde hair, looking every inch the perfect Princess. 

The young royal was snapped by her mother leaning on a fence alongside pale pink flowers. 

Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James pointed out subtle signs in the photo that display Charlotte's 'self-confidence' as she turns nine. 

Judi said previous photos to mark Charlotte's birthday have shown the princess looking 'cute and playful', but she is now showing off her unique personality and looking more 'assertive'.  

Princess Charlotte is celebrating her ninth birthday today with a special image taken by her mother, the Princess of Wales 

Judi said: 'This is such a breathtakingly relaxed and confident pose from a very grown-up looking Charlotte who has swapped all the cuteness and playfulness of her previous birthday poses for something more assertive and elegant here.'

Looking closely at Charlotte's posture, Judi said there were several signs that prove the middle child of Kate and William is coming into her own as she grows up.  

She continued: 'Her angle of lean and the way she has hooked an arm over the high wall suggests she is now happy to adopt her own poses to show off her individual personality.

'This one comes with a head tilt to signal likability and a smile that has added tones of warmth and empathy.

'There’s no sign of body scrunching or barriers to suggest shyness and the lifted arm forms a pit-bare gesture that would again signal those good levels of self-confidence here.'

And the young royal looked every inch the perfect Princess, wearing a £42 raspberry wool cardigan from Parisian brand Cyrillus teamed with a denim skirt from the same brand. 

In a positive sign that Kate is well enough to be up and about and taking photos, which is one of her passions, she made sure to include a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II, by posing Charlotte alongside pale pink flowers named in Her Majesty's honour.

Writing on Twitter, her parents said: 'Happy 9th Birthday, Princess Charlotte!' 

For their daughter's birthday last year, the couple released two images of a beaming Charlotte. In one, she gave her mother a gap-toothed grin to mark the occasion 

In another, she was pictured in a blue-and-white striped jumper from Boden as she snuggled up with the family's beloved black cocker spaniel Orla 

The Clematis Elizabeth blooms are one of the first plants named after the late monarch and start flowering June to coincide with Charlotte's birthday. 

The Wales's daughter also shares a special link to her 'Gan-Gan' because she shares a name with the late monarch.

She was christened Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, after the late Queen and Prince Wiliam's late mother, in July 2015.  

It's the second time in recent weeks that Kate and William royals have broken with their long-held tradition for releasing their children's birthday portraits. 

Kensington Palace typically releases portraits of the Wales children early in the morning to mark their birthdays.

However, in a break from the usual protocol, the pair shared a snap of Prince Louis last Tuesday afternoon rather than at midnight on his birthday - as is customary with new royal portraits.

They also shared an unseen wedding photo to mark their 13th wedding anniversary. Many were wondering if the future King and Queen will share a new snap of their only daughter, following the fallout from their Photoshop furore earlier this year.

A Mother's Day portrait of Kate and her children, released on 10th March, was pulled by multiple photo agencies after it was revealed the image had been significantly edited.

Less than two weeks later, Kate announced in an emotional video that she has cancer and spoke of the need to protect her young family.

The Mail's Rebecca English revealed that the couple had initially decided not to issue one at all given their recent appeals for privacy at such an ‘unprecedented’ time for their family, but changed their minds because they wanted to thank fans for their kind wishes to Prince Louis.

Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales detailed how the cancerous cells were discovered, while she was undergoing surgery for a different condition in January.

It appears Charlotte paid a sweet homage to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II (pictured in 2021), as she posed alongside pale pink flowers named in her honour

She was also in attendance at Elizabeth's funeral in 2022, alongside with her older brother George

For their daughter's birthday last year, the couple  released two images of a beaming Charlotte.

In one, she gave her mother a gap-toothed grin to mark the occasion. With her tousled dark hair and flushed cheeks, it seems that country life at the King’s Berkshire estate, where the family moved to last summer, is agreeing with her.

In another, she was pictured in a blue-and-white striped jumper from Boden as she snuggled up with the family's beloved black cocker spaniel Orla. 

Releasing the images, Kensington Palace said: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are delighted to share a new photograph of Princess Charlotte ahead of her eighth birthday.'

 Many at the time noted her similarity to her father, William. The father-daughter duo appear to share a number of similar facial features, including their eyes and nose, and expressions.

The princess turns one (pictured, left), and the princess turns two, with this sweet photo shared to mark her big day

Previously, Princess Charlotte has shared her birthday pictures with her younger brother Louis (pictured, left), returning to solo portraits the next year when she turned four (pictured, right)

Charlotte pictured when she was five (pictured, left) and six (pictured, right) for her birthday portraits

Meanwhile, Kate opened up about her diagnosis in March, saying that 'it has taken them time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that she is going to be ok'

They both have large, beaming smiles, which boast more than a passing family resemblance.

The year prior, as Charlotte celebrated turning seven, photos showing the youngster at the family's country home Anmer Hall in Norfolk were published.

The images show Charlotte laughing into the lens, as she wears a blue patterned blouse and jumper, and clutches a posy of freshly picked daisies.

Today's celebrations saw the Prince and Princess of Wales's Instagram comments filled with happy birthday wishes for their daughter as they once again remarked on her similarity to William.