UK's Princess Charlotte celebrates fourth birthday with new photos

Britain's Princess Charlotte poses for a photo taken by her mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at their home in Norfolk, Britain in April, to mark her fourth birthday, in this undated handout image released May 1, 2019. The Duchess of Cambridge/PA Wire/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Princess Charlotte celebrates her fourth birthday on Thursday and her parents released three new pictures of the smiling young royal to mark the occasion.

Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and his wife Kate, was pictured in the gardens at Kensington Palace in central London, and the family home in Norfolk, eastern England.

The photos of the fourth-in-line to the throne were taken by Kate, who regularly releases family pictures to celebrate her children's birthdays.

Britain's Princess Charlotte poses for a photo taken by her mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at Kensington Palace, London, Britain in April, to mark her fourth birthday, in this undated handout image released May 1, 2019. The Duchess of Cambridge/PA Wire/Handout via REUTERS

It's a busy time for birthdays in the British royal family. Charlotte's younger brother Louis celebrated his first birthday two weeks ago, two days after the 93rd birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the world's oldest monarch.

The birth of the first child of William's younger brother Harry and his wife Meghan is also expected any day now.

Britain's Princess Charlotte smiles for a photo taken by her mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at their home in Norfolk, Britain in April, to mark her fourth birthday, in this undated handout image released May 1, 2019. The Duchess of Cambridge/PA Wire/Handout via REUTERS

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Elisabeth O'Leary)