New Footage of Princess Charlotte Sparks Family Concerns
New footage of Princess Charlotte, released to celebrate her 11th birthday, has captured the hearts of fans around the world. However, behind the scenes, there are growing concerns from Prince William and his wife, Kate, about the level of public attention their daughter is receiving.
The video shared on Instagram on May 2 showed Charlotte enjoying time with the family’s pet dogs and playing cricket on the beach during the Wales’ Easter holiday in Cornwall. The footage also included a separate portrait taken by photographer Matt Porteous, which showcased Charlotte smiling in a striped jumper and jeans, with her long brunette hair flowing freely.
“Wishing Charlotte a very happy 11th birthday!” was the simple caption accompanying the image, which quickly gained over half a million likes within hours of being posted. Despite the positive reception, sources have revealed that Kate and William are reportedly concerned about the intense online interest in their daughter.
According to insiders, the couple has been “taken aback” by the “somewhat obsessive” attention Charlotte is receiving. “William and Kate are genuinely uncomfortable about ‘Charlotte mania’ and the huge following she’s getting,” an insider said. “But it may be too late to stop it.”
Interestingly, it’s claimed that Charlotte does not want to be hidden from social media like her cousins in California, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. “Charlotte’s doing everything [Kate and William] asked her – to be kind, gracious and well-behaved, to absolute perfection – and it’s working,” the source added. “She’s not going to let her folks start ‘hiding her away’, but Kate’s worried about the enormous pressure she’s taking on – she’s not even a teenager yet!”
It’s understandable that Kate and William are cautious about the exposure Charlotte is receiving at such a young age. In the Netherlands, just days before Charlotte’s birthday, a man was detained in connection with an alleged plot to attack Dutch royals Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22, and Princess Alexia, 20. This incident highlights the potential risks that come with public life.
Keeping their children safe from online trolls is also a concern for Charlotte’s estranged aunt and uncle, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who are based in Montecito. As Prince Archie prepares to celebrate his seventh birthday on May 6, it was previously reported that Meghan had been considering releasing a more formal portrait of him.
“Meghan feels the timing is perfect to put out an official set of pictures for his birthday, especially with the recent launch of her Archie-inspired candle,” a source said. However, Harry is reportedly not fully on board with this idea.
“Harry’s not convinced her reasons are enough to put Archie at risk, not just having his face plastered all over the world in seconds, but the trolls and the bullying he’s going to face,” the insider shared. “Harry knows from bitter experience how a childhood in the spotlight can change your life and not always for the better.”
