Photographs of Princess Charlotte and her older brother Prince George are to be released by Kensington Palace this evening.
The pictures, taken last month by their mother Kate at the family’s country home in Norfolk , will be the first public images of Princess Charlotte since the day of her birth on 2 May.
The four photographs will be released via the media and tweeted by the Kensington Palace from 9pm.
The planned publication of the photographs was announced by Kensington Palace on Twitter at 11am this morning.
The tweet said: “We’ll be posting a very special photo of Prince George & his little sister Princess Charlotte late tonight. Can’t wait to share it with you!”
The announcement led to a flurry of excitement on the social media network.
Kensington Palace also posted a picture of the mountain of mail sent by well-wishers following the royal birth.
It said: “The Duke & Duchess are very grateful for the wonderful messages they’ve received on the birth of Princess Charlotte.”
The Duchess of Cambridge is a keen amateur photographer, and her decision to get behind the camera indicates the pictures will show her children in an informal setting rather than a formal portrait.
She follows in the footsteps of her father Michael Middleton, who took the first official picture of George, released when he was less than a month old in August 2013.
This was taken in the informal setting of the back garden of the Middleton’s family home in Bucklebury.
Kate, who studied photography as part of her history of art degree at St Andrews University, where she met William, has previously published examples of her work.
The publication of her family pictures come as it was announced Princess Charlotte will be christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Sandringham on Sunday, 5 July.
The private ceremony will be held at St Mary Magdalene Church, which is only around three miles from the family home of Anmer Hall.
It is where the royal family usually attend their traditional Christmas service.
The date in early July may have been chosen as it fits with the Queen’s plans as she will be going to Balmoral for the summer.
The princess’ older brother George was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St James’s Palace in October 2013.