As Prince Louis turned six today, royal enthusiasts eagerly anticipated the release of a new image. The adorable snapshot, captured by his mother, Princess Kate, portrays the birthday boy smiling at the camera while lying barefoot on a grassy blanket. Princess Kate snapped the photo recently at Windsor and shared it with fans via the official social media accounts of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
This unedited, endearing image arrives approximately six weeks after the controversy surrounding the Mother’s Day portrait, which the Princess acknowledged editing. The Wales family has faced a challenging year, marked by the princess’s significant abdominal surgery, cancer diagnosis, and ongoing chemotherapy treatment.
However, the release of this portrait signals a shift in the way William and Kate typically release images for their children’s birthdays. It was published directly on social media on Louis’ actual birthday, Tuesday, rather than under embargo to the press the day before, as has been the established pattern for all three of their children’s birthdays since their births.
Reportedly, this change was prompted by the family’s extraordinary circumstances. William and Kate are mindful of their request for privacy during the princess’s recovery but wished to share the photograph on social media as a gesture of gratitude for the birthday wishes they received.
A similar approach is expected for Princess Charlotte’s birthday next week, as she turns nine on May 2.
Last month, Kate publicly apologized after an image of the princess with Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis, taken by William, was discovered to have been digitally altered. Concerns about image manipulation prompted picture agencies to withdraw the family’s Mother’s Day portrait, the first official one featuring Kate since her surgery. This incident fueled a surge of online conspiracy theories regarding Kate’s health and whereabouts.
The princess assumed responsibility and expressed regret for the confusion, stating in a statement that she had been experimenting with editing. Less than two weeks later, she delivered an emotional video message to the nation, revealing that she was undergoing chemotherapy after post-operative tests confirmed the presence of cancer.
Ahead of the Easter holidays, William and Kate took the time to sensitively inform their children of the princess’s diagnosis, allowing them to process the news.
Today, the couple expressed gratitude to royal fans for the birthday messages they received for their youngest child. Their social media post reads, ‘Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.’ An accompanying camera emoji was attributed to the Princess of Wales. The image was also reposted on the main Royal Family social media accounts.
William and Kate’s youngest child is fourth in line to the throne. He was born on St George’s Day, April 23, 2018, at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, weighing 8lb 7oz. At 11 weeks old, he was christened Louis Arthur Charles by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, surrounded by family and friends.
