Prince George holds baby sister Princess Charlotte in family pictures taken by Kate Middleton.

Four photographs taken by the Duchess of Cambridge of her two children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are published today

Members of the public have been invited to share in Princess Charlotte's christening this Sunday by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The royal couple have asked for the paddock outside St MaryMagdalene Church, Sandringham, to be opened to the public so they can see the baby before and after her baptism. The church itself will be open to invited guests only, but thousands of people are expected to turn out for a rare opportunity to see the fourth in line to the throne.

It will be the first time in living memory that the christening of such a senior member of the Royal family has involved the public in any way.

When Prince George was christened two years ago, the ceremony was held in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace, meaning there was no access to the public at all. The same was true of Prince William, the Prince of Wales and the Queen, who were all christened at Buckingham Palace, and Prince Harry, who was baptised at Windsor Castle. 

But for Princess Charlotte's christening, Kensington Palace said that: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be pleased to welcome well-wishers into the paddock outside the church. "The Duke and Duchess are hugely grateful for the warm wishes they have received since Princess Charlotte's birth - many of them from local people in Norfolk - and are delighted the paddock can be opened on the day of the christening."