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Princess Charlotte shows long locks in new image for her sixth birthday

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A smiling Princess Charlotte looking relaxed and happy has been photographed by her mother in a new image shared as she turns six years old.

The new picture was shared by Kensington Palace the day before her birthday, but in a departure from tradition, won't be posted on their social media pages.

Prince William, as president of the FA, has lent his support to a boycott of social media until companies take stronger action against racism and abuse on online platforms.

So the image is unlikely to appear on the Kensington Royal accounts before the end of the four day boycott.

EMBARGOED TO 2230 SATURDAY MAY 1 Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2021, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo issued by Kensington Palace of Princess Charlotte taken by the Duchess of Cambridge this weekend in Norfolk, released ahead of her sixth birthday on Sunday. Issue date: Saturday May 1, 2021.
Charlotte was pictured earlier this week, in this image shared before her sixth birthday. (The Duchess of Cambridge)

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In the new picture, Charlotte is wearing a blue and pink floral dress, and has her hair loose around her shoulders.

Although she has been photographed in recent months, out at the pantomime with her family in December, her hair has usually been styled back, away from her face.

The young princess bears a striking resemblance to her father at the same age.

She grins at the camera, which is being operated by Kate, a keen amateur photographer who has turned her passion into a key part of how she and Prince William share their lives with royal watchers.

Kate recently released a photograph of their youngest son Prince Louis before St George's Day, which was his third birthday.

Prince William go-karting at the British Grand Prix in July 1988. (Anwar Hussein)
Prince William go-karting at the British Grand Prix in July 1988. (Anwar Hussein)

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The relaxed portrait of Charlotte, which was taken over the weekend in Norfolk, differs to her fifth birthday picture, where she was shown helping to distribute food parcels around the Sandringham Estate.

Charlotte was born on 2 May 2015, in the Lindo Wing at St Mary's in Paddington, and was christened Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, after her great-grandmother and late grandmother.

She attends Thomas's Battersea in London, over the river from the family home at Kensington Palace.

Prince George, who is seven, is at the same school as her.

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (C), holds the hand of her son, Britain's Prince Louis of Cambridge (L) and her daughter Britain's Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (R) as they attend a special pantomime performance of The National Lotterys Pantoland  at London's Palladium Theatre in London on December 11, 2020, to thank key workers and their families for their efforts throughout the pandemic. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Charlotte with her younger brother Louis and her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, at the theatre in December. (Aaron Chown/AFP)

Earlier this week the Cambridges shared a video of the five of them enjoying the countryside in Norfolk, showing them taking a trip to the beach and toasting marshmallows around an open fire.

Kate has previously spoken about her love of the outdoors as a child, and how she wants to encourage her children to have the same love.

Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast last year, Kate said: "The simple things resonate with me the most. Life now is so busy, so distracting, the simple things like watching a fire on a rainy day, I remember that from my childhood. Going for a walk, that’s really what I try to do with my children now."

She said she was happiest when "I am with my family, out in the countryside and we are all filthy dirty".

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