The INSIDER Summary:
Britain's Princess Charlotte turns 2 on May 2.
Ahead of her birthday, the royal family released an adorable new portrait of the toddler.
May 2 marks the second birthday of Princess Charlotte, second child of Will and Kate and the little sister of Prince George.
The royal family got a jump start on the celebrations by releasing a new photo of the princess one day before her official birthday. It was taken by Kate herself at the family's country home in Norfolk.
"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,"a royal family Facebook post read.
The royals have kept the young princess out of the spotlight for much of her life — she's only been photographed a handful times.
She was first introduced to the world on May 2, 2015, when Will and Kate greeted journalists and royal family fans camped outside the London hospital where Kate gave birth.
Prince George posed with his newborn sister not too long after in this sweet portrait.
The next time the public saw Charlotte was during a parade for the queen's birthday in June 2016. Members of the royal family stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet well-wishers.
The growing family of four took their first vacation together in March 2016. Their trip to the French Alps marked the first time George and Charlotte had ever played in the snow, according to Vanity Fair.
And later that year, Charlotte made her first official trip as a member of the royal family. The family spent eight days touring through Canada. When new photos of Charlotte surfaced online during the tour, people started to note that she looks a lot like her great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
When the royals departed Canada, she smiled for the cameras like a pro.
And in her most recent public appearance, cameras caught Charlotte enjoying a candy cane after attending a Christmas church service in December 2016.
She's growing up into a lovely young princess.
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