- Kate Middleton is known for taking photographs of her family.
- The Duchess of Cambridge made history by taking Princess Charlotte’s official portraits after she was born in June 2015.
- Middleton has since photographed Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to document their birthdays.
- She’s also captured candid pictures of Prince William, as well as family milestones, like the Cambridge kids’ first days of school.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The royal family is one of the most photographed families in the world, most times by professional photographers who know exactly how to get their best angles with impeccable lighting. However, some of the family’s most impressive shots come from Kate Middleton herself.
Ever since she took her first official photos of Princess Charlotte in June 2015, it’s become clear that she’s not a regular royal; she’s a talented royal. She’s continued to take some adorable family photos with her own camera, often in celebration of her kids’ birthdays or their first day of school. Her instantly iconic snaps have even landed her an honorary membership in the Royal Photographic Society.
Here are the best family photos she’s taken so far.
Middleton broke tradition when she snapped the first official photos of Princess Charlotte shortly after she was born in June 2015.
http://instagr.am/p/3mbJqhKZFl
Middleton's royal photography left many impressed by her skills.
Prince George is seen holding his new baby sister in each of the photos.
http://instagr.am/p/3mia5qKZGE
The photos were taken in the comfort of their own home, giving them an even more personal touch.
In celebration of Charlotte turning 6 months old, Kensington Palace released some more photos taken by Middleton.
http://instagr.am/p/-qzbXNqZMz
"The Duke and Duchess continue to receive warm messages about Princess Charlotte from all around the world and they hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as they do," Kensington Palace wrote in the caption.
This one was particularly adorable.
http://instagr.am/p/-qz5qfqZN7
Several people commented on how much she resembled her older brother, Prince George.
In January 2016, Middleton captured the morning before Prince George's first day of nursery school.
http://instagr.am/p/BANErIsKZO2
Prince George attended Westacre Montessori School nursery in Norfolk, UK.
Both photos showed the prince posing in front of a mural outside the building.
http://instagr.am/p/BANFI58qZPz
It was refreshing to see that Middleton likes to take such a hands-on approach that many parents can relate to.
Kensington Palace marked Charlotte's 1st birthday in May 2016 by sharing a series of photos taken by Middleton.
http://instagr.am/p/BE3E11XqZGS
The photos were taken in April 2016 in the family's home.
Charlotte wore an adorable pink dress and sweater.
http://instagr.am/p/BE3ElF1KZFr
Many people praised Middleton's framing and lighting in the photos.
She even snapped a few photos of Charlotte playing outside.
http://instagr.am/p/BE3FHPSKZGu
This was one of the first times people noticed Princess Charlotte's resemblance to Queen Elizabeth II.
The comments section was filled with comments about how "adorable" and "precious" the little princess looked.
http://instagr.am/p/BE3FUOiqZHT
"We hope everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as we do," Kensington Palace wrote in the Instagram caption.
In May 2017, Middleton snapped this photo for Charlotte's 2nd birthday.
http://instagr.am/p/BTi0IY8g4rA
Her expression and bright yellow sweater made her look more like the Queen than ever.
When Princess Charlotte started nursery school in January, Middleton snapped two more adorable photos.
http://instagr.am/p/Bdscg5vg79w
Charlotte looked excited for her new adventure.
Charlotte wore a red coat that many people compared to previous outfits worn by Middleton.
http://instagr.am/p/BdsccZ-gYel
It looks like style runs in the family.
When Prince Louis was born in April 2018, Middleton took out her camera once again for his first official photos.
http://instagr.am/p/BiadZaFAznV
He was wearing a similar sweater to the one that Princess Charlotte wore for her first official photos.
Princess Charlotte was seen holding her new baby brother in the second photo.
http://instagr.am/p/BiadXx_g4z0
The photos were taken on Charlotte's 3rd birthday, making it even more of a special occasion.
A year later, the duchess photographed Prince Louis for his 1st birthday.
http://instagr.am/p/Bwkq68KF-xS
Prince Louis turned 1 on April 23, 2018.
The next month, Middleton celebrated Princess Charlotte's 4th birthday with charming portraits.
http://instagr.am/p/Bw72MZGlW5P
Princess Charlotte is known for her adorable waves, curtsies, and facial expressions she often makes whenever paparazzi are present.
The princess is seen frolicking in a field at the Cambridge family's home in Norfolk.
http://instagr.am/p/Bw72IsRF3xC
The toddler wore a gray sweater over a plaid dress and tights.
The duchess took precious photos of Prince George for his 6th birthday.
http://instagr.am/p/B0MandYlEtw
Prince George turned 6 years old in July 2019.
Kate Middleton and Prince William's oldest child looked dashing in a dark-green collared shirt.
http://instagr.am/p/B0MapAylN3g
The photo was shared one day before his birthday, which is July 22.
On Christmas Day 2019, the palace released a photo the duchess took of Prince William, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George.
http://instagr.am/p/B6eXqjIlOvk
Prince William is pictured giving Prince Louis a kiss on the cheek.
In February, Middleton shared a candid photo she took that shows Princess Charlotte smelling wildflowers.
http://instagr.am/p/B8mrYD2ltyf
The photo was related to Middleton's first-ever podcast interview, which was published the same day. The duchess was interviewed on "Happy Mum, Happy Baby" podcast and talked to host Giovanna Fletcher about pregnancy and motherhood.
Middleton specifically talked about this photo of Princess Charlotte, saying it was an example of small but significant moments she enjoys sharing with her kids.
"I've got this one photo of Charlotte smelling a bluebell, and really for me, it's moments like that that mean so much to me as a parent. I try every day to put moments like that in, even if they're small or even if I don't have time," Middleton said on the podcast.
Middleton captured clever photos of Prince Louis playing with paint to mark his 2nd birthday in April.
http://instagr.am/p/B_TFx2vF-ix
The colorful photos of Prince Louis captured by Middleton in April were unlike other royal portraits, which are typically more formal.
The duchess also shared "Instagram versus reality" photos from the youngest Cambridge son's photo shoot.
http://instagr.am/p/B_UHBjUl963
Prince Louis proudly showed off his rainbow-printed hands in honor of his birthday.
Princess Charlotte looked darling for her 5th birthday portraits, which were shared in May.
http://instagr.am/p/B_qQ7lDF-88
Along with a traditional photo of Princess Charlotte, Middleton also captured the young royal helping the family pack and deliver food to people in need who were in quarantine in their homes.
Prince William's 38th birthday photos showed him playing with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
http://instagr.am/p/CBs47LKlPig
The candid photos show the Duke of Cambridge as a regular dad.
Prince William and the Cambridge kids posed for another adorable picture on a rope swing at the family's home in Norfolk.
http://instagr.am/p/CBrAw7GFOv6
The family's rope swing may have been a wedding gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Prince Charles, according to Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English.
The duchess also took a sweet photo of Prince Charles and Prince William in honor of Father's Day.
http://instagr.am/p/CBskP12lRfw
The photo was taken in December 2019 at Sandringham, where the royal family celebrates Christmas.
Prince George's 7th birthday meant two new pictures taken by Middleton.
http://instagr.am/p/CC61TwRFOXU
The duchess took Prince George's birthday photos at the family's home in Norfolk.
Prince George showed his adorable gap-toothed smile in his birthday photos.
http://instagr.am/p/CC8EOXUliV5
His portraits were arguably less candid than other pictures the duchess has taken of him in recent years.
- Read more:
- Hidden talents of members of the royal family, from the Queen's photography to Meghan Markle's calligraphy
- Insiders reveal what it's really like to work for the royal family, saying that even with access to 'the best cars, yachts, and restaurants' the Queen has to offer, there are still 'pressure cooker scenarios'
- The royal family released an adorable video of Prince George complimenting his mom Kate Middleton on her gardening skills
- People just realized how much Princess Charlotte looks like a young Princess Diana - and the resemblance is uncanny