Once again, talented shutterbug and new mother-of-three Duchess Catherine captured the tender moment between big sister Charlotte and her baby brother at Kensington Palace on Charlotte’s May 2nd birthday last week.

In the first snap, Charlotte gently cradles a sleeping Louis as she lovingly places a kiss on his forehead – a strong brother-sister bond no doubt already in the making.

The three-year-old birthday girl looks picture-perfect with her brunette locks tied back in a ponytail and a clip, rocking a navy dress and cardigan combo.

In the second photo, little Louis is propped up on the couch in a crisp white knitted jumper and pants, alert and looking into the distance.

“‪The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share two photographs of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, taken by The Duchess at Kensington Palace.‬ This image was taken on 2nd May, on Princess Charlotte’s third Birthday,” the statement said.

It concluded:‬ “‪The Duke and Duchess would like to thank members of the public for their kind messages following the birth of Prince Louis, and for Princess Charlotte’s third birthday.‬”

Many royal watchers would notice just how similar these photos are to the portraits Kate captured a month after Charlotte’s birth in 2015, which show big brother George giving his little sister a loving smooch.

Now, three years later Charlotte gets to recreate the sweet moment – this time as the role of older sibling.

In another touching detail, Princess Charlotte is wearing older brother Prince George’s hand-me-down blue sweater by Spanish label Fina Ejerique.

The last time we saw George in the navy knit was in 2016, when he posed alongside Queen Elizabeth and her great-grandchildren and youngest grandchildren for her special edition 90th birthday portrait by photographer Annie Leibovitz in 2016.

While newborn Louis, who is fifth in line to the British throne, dons the matching outfit Charlotte wore in her first portraits in 2015 by Irulea.

See Prince Louis’ birth certificate above. 

Text: Bauer 

Photos: TPG News and Kensington Palace’s Instagram