Duchess Catherine celebrated her birthday with a party of just eight people on Tuesday (09.01.18).

Duchess Catherine

Duchess Catherine

The 36-year-royal is said to have enjoyed a "low key" affair at her and Prince William's home at Kensington Palace, but she couldn't drink because she is expecting the couple's third child.

A royal source told the Daily Star Online: "Catherine has got a small birthday party of eight today.

"But she is not drinking any alcohol and she is being careful with her food too.

"It will be quite a low-key party."

The royal couple's pals Guy Pelly and Elizabeth Wilson, and the duchess' friend Sophie Carter - a godmother of their two-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte - are thought to have been invited to the intimate event.

It's not known whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were in attendance but they were in nearby south London yesterday carrying out their second official engagement since confirming their intentions to marry.

This comes just days after Catherine - who also has four-year-old son Prince George with William - took pictures of their daughter Charlotte on her first day of nursery on Monday (08.01.18).

The pictures were posted on the Kensington Palace official Twitter account and captioned: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share two photographs of Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace this morning.

"The images were taken by The Duchess shortly before Princess Charlotte left for her first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School."

Charlotte is attending the Willcocks Nursery School in London.