Charlotte and George photo released

A poignant photograph showing Princess Charlotte being held by her older brother Prince George has been released on social media by Kensington Palace.

George looks down lovingly at his sister and has a protective hand on her stomach in the double portrait picture.

The photograph was taken by their mother the Duchess of Cambridge at their family home Anmer Hall in Norfolk a few weeks ago when Charlotte was around two weeks old.

It has been posted on the Palace's official Twitter and Instagram accounts as a thank you to the hundreds of thousands of new followers the accounts have attracted since the royal birth on May 2.

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.

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.