Yahoo News Princess of Wales Kate Middleton shares sweet photo of Prince Louis on his sixth birthday
A new picture of Prince Louis has been shared by Kensington Palace as the young royal celebrates his sixth birthday.
The unedited close-up photo, showing a barefoot Louis grinning at the camera as he lies on a blanket on the grass, was taken in the last few days at Windsor by the Princess of Wales, who announced last month she is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. The image was posted on Kensington Palace's social media accounts on Tuesday.
William and Kate thanked royal fans for the birthday messages they received for their youngest child. The post read: "Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today."
The image was followed by a camera emoji and attributed to the Princess of Wales. The Wales family have had a challenging start to the year, with the princess's major abdominal surgery, cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The release of the portrait marks a change in the way William and Kate usually issue images for their children's birthdays. It was posted straight to social media on Louis' actual birthday on Tuesday, rather than under embargo to the press the day before, as was the established pattern William and Kate have followed each year for all three of their children since they were born.
It is understood to be due to the unprecedented time the family is experiencing. William and Kate are said to be cognisant of the fact that they have asked for privacy during the princess' recovery, but wanted to share the photograph on social media as a way to thank those who have sent birthday wishes. The same process is expected to be followed for Princess Charlotte's birthday in May.
Following the release of Prince Louis' picture, scores of people wished him well on social media. One message read: "Wishing this sweet little prince the happiest of the birthdays."
Another wrote: "Wishing a very happy 6th birthday to Prince Louis! May this year bring you joy, love, and endless adventures. Thank you to the Princess of Wales for sharing this special day with us."
