KATE'S "PERFECT PRINCESS'

At 10, Charlotte embodies the best qualities of her parents - and great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth

-  TRACY SCHAVERIEN

Smiling at the camera, captured against a backdrop of rolling hills and cloudy skies, Princess Charlotte is radiant in her official 10th birthday portrait.

Taken by her mother, Princess Kate, on an iPhone during a trip to the Lake District, the image shows the sporty, adventurous young royal clearly delighted to be out in the elements, wearing a leaf-print Jack Pyke waterproof camouflage jacket and a backpack, her windswept long hair tied back in a ponytail. The photo was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's official social media accounts, captioned, "Happy 10th Birthday, Princess Charlotte!" with a heart emoji.

Confident, sociable and with impeccable manners, the Waleses' middle child – and only daughter – is growing up much like any other 10-year-old. She's "pony mad," according to her dad, with a love of ballet, tennis, soccer and, yes, Taylor Swift.

But she also displays a sensitivity beyond her years, according to royal expert Phil Dampier.

"Although the Princess of Wales has obviously been looking after her children during her cancer treatment and reassuring them that she is getting better, Charlotte has been a great source of strength to her," he tells Hello! "She cheers [Kate] up when she needs it most and has an uncanny ability to say the right thing at the right time."

WISE BEYOND HER YEARS