The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a new photograph of their youngest son, Prince Louis, to mark his eighth birthday, taken during a family holiday to Cornwall.
The image shows a grinning Louis leaning with folded arms against a metal barrier, the sea as a backdrop, wearing a blue textured quarter-zip jumper. Kensington Palace’s social media post accompanying the photo read: “Happy birthday, Louis! 8 today!” with a red balloon emoji.
Photographer Matt Porteous, who has previously worked with the Wales family on occasions including Louis’ christening and Prince George’s third and fifth birthdays, captured the image earlier this month.
Louis, 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, is the third child of William and Kate, following Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 10, and remains fourth in line to the throne.
Known for his cheeky antics, Louis rarely accompanies his parents on royal engagements but is often seen at significant events such as the Trooping the Colour Parade, Easter Sunday, and King Charles’ coronation.
The Prince and Princess of Wales spent Easter together with their children, and Louis was last seen at church with the rest of the royal family on Easter Sunday.
The Wales family has a noted history of naval service: Louis’s great-grandfather, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Navy and became Admiral of the Fleet; his grandfather, King Charles III, commanded HMS Bronington as Prince of Wales; and Louis’s namesake, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, served as First Sea Lord.
The release of the photograph continues the family’s tradition of marking milestones with personal images, offering a glimpse into their private life while maintaining the balance between public duty and family privacy.
Why was the photograph taken in Cornwall?
The Wales family chose Cornwall for a private holiday, continuing their pattern of spending quality time together during school breaks, as noted by royal experts who observe their efforts to provide a normalized upbringing for their children.
How does this birthday compare to previous ones?
This is the eighth birthday portrait released by Kensington Palace, following similar personal photographs for Prince George’s third and fifth birthdays and the family’s 2022 Christmas card, all taken by Matt Porteous.