Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and Princess Catherine, celebrated his sixth birthday on Tuesday. The princess, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, was credited with taking the photo released for the occasion, marking a departure from previous years when images were sent to media organizations under embargo.
The candid image of a smiling Prince Louis was posted directly on the couple’s social media accounts, accompanied by a caption that read, ‘Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.’ Notably, the photograph was unedited, showcasing the natural beauty of the moment. The photographer credit was signed as ‘The Princess of Wales,’ Kate’s official title.
Prince Louis is the youngest of the couple’s three children, with Prince George turning 10 earlier this year and Princess Charlotte set to celebrate her ninth birthday next month. The release of this unedited image follows a controversy surrounding a Mother’s Day photograph of Kate and her children that was digitally altered. Leading news agencies, including Agence France-Presse and Reuters, withdrew the image after it was discovered to have been edited.
The Mother’s Day image was intended to quell speculation about the princess’ whereabouts and health following her abdominal surgery in January. However, her subsequent admission that she had edited the photo fueled rumors, prompting her to release a video announcing that she was receiving preventive chemotherapy for an undisclosed type of cancer.
Prince William, heir to the throne, has recently returned to official duties since the announcement of Kate’s illness. Kate herself will only resume public engagements when her medical team deems her well enough to do so. Britain’s domestic Press Association news agency described the photograph of Louis as an ‘unedited close-up image,’ highlighting the authenticity of the moment captured by his mother.
