Kate Middleton departed from tradition on April 23rd by sharing a new birthday portrait of Prince Louis that she didn’t take herself.
To celebrate Prince Louis turning seven, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a charming photo of their youngest child. Louis, the third child of William and Kate—who also have Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince George, 11—is pictured smiling widely while sitting on a tree stump surrounded by bluebells in a woodland scene.
The photo is thought to have been taken in the garden at Anmer Hall, the family’s home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
The image was captioned, “Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!” and quickly drew attention from royal fans who remarked on how grown up he looks.
Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday! 🎂
📸 Josh Shinner pic.twitter.com/0qvHq5M6gJ
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2025
Traditionally, Kate, an avid photographer, takes the annual birthday portraits of her children, typically releasing them at midnight. But this year, the photo was taken by professional photographer Josh Shinner and shared mid-morning instead.
Prince Louis was born at 11:01 am on April 23, 2018, at St Mary’s Hospital in London, weighing eight pounds and seven ounces.
Kate and Louis returned to Kensington Palace that same day. William was seen bringing George and Charlotte to meet their baby brother at the hospital, and the family posed for photos on the hospital steps.
Many are amazed that seven years have passed since Louis was born, with one social media user commenting: “Wow! 7 y/o already!? Time flies. Happy Birthday Prince Louis!! Hope you have wonderful birthday!”
Last year, on Prince George’s 11th birthday, eagle-eyed fans noticed a bracelet in his portrait that sparked speculation about a possible Taylor Swift connection, as George had attended her concert with William and Charlotte. The pop star even posted a selfie with the trio, captioning it, “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start.”
