Royal Baby: Photograph released of Princess Charlotte and big brother Prince George taken by their mother

A poignant photograph of Princess Charlotte being held by her older brother Prince George has been released by Kensington Palace.

The image is the first photo released of the siblings together and was posted on the Palace’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts.

In the photograph George looks down lovingly at his sister and places a protective brotherly hand on her stomach.

Charlotte appears to be wearing a romper suit with a jumper, while her brother wears a white shirt with blue piping detail around the collar, cuffs and front, and matching blue socks and shorts.

A caption on the photograph reads "HRH The Duchess of Cambridge", with the palace confirming The Duchess took the photograph in May.

Official photographs of Charlotte will also be released which have reportedly been taken by The Duchess of Cambridge.

The four snaps of the princess, who is now a month old, were taken two weeks ago at Anmer Hall, Norfolk.

The palace posted the image as a thank you to the hundreds of thousands of new followers the accounts have attracted since the royal birth on May 2.

George, who was 21-months-old when the pictures were taken, visited his sister the day she was born at the private maternity wing of St Mary's hospital in Paddington.

The baby princess was taken by her parents to their Norfolk home a few days after the birth and will be christened at a nearby church on the Queen's Sandringham estate.

Charlotte will be baptised at St Mary Magdalene Church on Sunday July 5 at a private ceremony led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.