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Princess Charlotte celebrates 1st birthday! See her year of firsts in photos

Happy birthday to sweet Princess Charlotte, the younger child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
/ Source: TODAY

Happy birthday to Princess Charlotte!

Monday marks the first birthday for Great Britain’s youngest heir, who is fourth in line to the throne (behind her big brother, Prince George). And while Charlotte has only interacted with the public on two occasions — the day she was born and her christening two months later — Kensington Palace has released a handful of photos throughout the year that have captured the public's fascination.

RELATED: Princess Charlotte is royally cute! See 4 new pics released for her 1st b-day

Here’s a look back at the young princess and her first year of life.

Darling debut: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge was born May 2, 2015 and introduced to an ecstatic crowd just hours later.

Princess Charlotte and Duchess Kate and PRince William.
The world got its first look at Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana on May 2, 2015 as she and her parents left a London hospital just hours after the delivery.PA

A sleeping Charlotte was carried out of a London hospital in the arms of her mother, Duchess Kate, and accompanied by her father, Prince William.

Princess Charlotte close up
A close-up of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge being held by her mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge outside the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London.EPA

Oh brother! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a series of photos of their two children in June, with Prince George gently holding up his then one-month-old sister.

Prince George holding Princess Charlotte
Kensington Palace released one of the photos through its official Twitter and Instagram accounts as a way to recognize the hundreds of thousands of followers it gained in the month since the baby's birth.Getty Images

In one photo, he even gives the young princess a kiss on her forehead.

Prince George kissing the top of Princess Charlotte's head
Kensington Palace released one of the photos through its official Twitter and Instagram accounts as a way to recognize the hundreds of thousands of followers it gained in the month since the baby's birth.AFP - Getty Images

All the photos were taken by Duchess Kate.

Charlotte’s christening: The young princess was christened July 5, 2015, in a small ceremony at a church located on Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, just outside of London.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte on her christening day
Prince George peeks into his sister's pram as they leave following the christening of Princess Charlotte.AP

The ceremony took place at the same countryside church where Charlotte’s grandmother, Princess Diana, was baptized.

Several days later, Kensington Palace released a series of stunningly beautiful photos taken by Mario Testino after the event.

Duchess Kate, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte after Charlotte's christening
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children pose for a photo after Princess Charlotte's christening.Mario Testino / Art Partner
Princess Charlotte
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and her daughter Princess Charlotte of Cambridge pose for a photo in the Drawing Room at Sandringham House after the christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on the Sandringham Estate on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn, England.Mario Testino / Art Partner

Sweet and solo: Duchess Kate showed off her photography skills once again when she released new photos she had taken of her daughter, this time by herself.

Princess Charlotte in one of several photos taken by her mother, Duchess Kate
Princess Charlotte had just turned six months old when her mother captured this picture inside Anmer Hall in Sandringham Estate outside of London.Reuters

However, in one shot, Princess Charlotte is clearly delighted to have company, that of her plush stuffed animal, Fuddlewuddle.

Princess Charlotte
In a press statement, the Palace said the photos were taken by the Duchess in early November at the Duke and Duchess' home in Norfolk. Charlotte had just turned six-months old. Here she is happily engaged with what looks to be a favorite stuffed toy.Reuters

Happy holidays! In December 2015, Prince William and Duchess Kate released the photo they plan to use for their annual holiday card.

Duchess kate and Prince William and their children in the photo for the Royal Christmas Card
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their two children in a photograph taken late October but released December 29, 2015.Chris Jelf / PA Images via AP

The photo was taken two months earlier on the grounds of Kensington Palace.

Snow day! Charlotte and her brother got their first chance to play in the snow as their parents take the family on a skiing vacation in the French Alps this past March.

Duchess Kate and Prince William skiing in the French Alps
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children during a break from a short skiing vacation on March 3 in the French Alps.Getty Images

"This was their first holiday as a family of four and the first time either of the children had played in the snow," the palace said in a statement at the time.

Look closely at the picture of the rosy-cheeked Charlotte with her dad: She sports two new teeth!

Princess Charlotte and her dad, Prince William
Princess Charlotte with her dad, Prince WilliamJOHN STILLWELL / AFP - Getty Images

And purse makes eight: An official portrait released in honor of Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday features the reining royal holding the family’s youngest one in her arms. Princess Charlotte sits on the lap of her great-grandmother, surrounded by her brother, three cousins and two second cousins.

Queen Elizabeth with all of her great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren
Princess Charlotte sits on the queen's lap in one of three official portraits released by Buckingham Palace to mark the monarch's 90th birthday. The photograph includes all five great-grandchildren and the queen's two youngest grandchildren.(C) 2016 Annie Leibovitz / Getty Images

Happy birthday, sweet Charlotte! A day before Princess Charlotte's birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released four photos of the young princess, all taken by Duchess Kate.

We look forward to many more years of "firsts!"

Pretty as a princess! Princess Charlotte in photos

Slideshow  27 photos

Pretty as a princess! Princess Charlotte in photos

Look back at some of the best moments from Princess Charlotte's life.

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