Secret nod to Prince George in Kate's sweet photo of Princess Charlotte holding baby brother Prince Louis

PRINCESS Charlotte gently cradles Prince Louis in a sweet new photograph — but where’s big brother Prince George?

The eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is noticeably absent from the tender snap, which was released yesterday.

But there is a subtle nod to the cherubic four-year-old in Charlotte’s navy outfit, reports The Sun.

In the portrait, taken by Kate, Charlotte wears a blue cardigan with a fair isle pattern by royal favourite Fina Ejerique.

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The knit belongs to George and he wore it for a Vanity Fair family portrait celebrating his great-grandmother the Queen’s 90th birthday.

It appears Charlotte has immediately warmed to her big-sister role, resting baby Louis in her lap and instinctively placing a protective arm around him.

In a touching nod to the closeness between the siblings, Louis, just three days old, wears a cream jumper and legging set that Charlotte, who was three on Wednesday, wore as an infant for her own first portrait.

The matching set by Irulea is now called the Princess Charlotte set.

It is believed George is absent from the pictures because they were taken while he was at school.

Kensington Palace said William and Kate were “very pleased” to share the photographs, adding that the couple wanted to thank the public “for all of the kind messages they have received following the birth of Prince Louis, and for Princess Charlotte’s third birthday”.

Kate, 36, and William, 35, went out for dinner in London on Friday — their first date night since Louis was born on April 23.

It is not the first time Kate’s youngsters have worn hand-me-downs.

Last year, on a trip to Poland, Charlotte was spotted wearing a pair of red strapped shoes that originally belonged to Prince Harry.

And, Louis was swaddled in a GH Hurt and Sons blanket that Kate also used for Charlotte and George.

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