Prince Louis turns eight today (23 April), and the Prince and Princess of Wales have released a sweet snap of their youngest to celebrate.
It is a tradition for Prince William and Kate Middleton to share new photos of their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, on their birthdays.
Posting the latest pic on X, the official social media account for the Prince and Princess of Wales captioned it: “Happy birthday, Louis! 8 today!” Along with a balloon emoji.
According to ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship, the adorable photo of the lad was ‘taken on a family holiday in Cornwall earlier this year’. It was taken by photographer Matt Porteous.
He is seen standing next to the sea, leaning on a railing with his arms folded, in a navy blue jumper.
Fans have been rushing to share their thoughts about the new image of the young prince, with Kensington Palace also releasing a video montage taken during the holiday.
Many expressed their birthday wishes to Prince Louis, but others were upset by how grown up the youngster now looks.
One wrote: “Happy birthday louis! 8 already? That pic is adorable, kid’s growing up fast!”
Another shocked fan marvelled: “Happy birthday to Louis! He looks so mature!”
“Just love Louis. How fast time flies. I can’t believe he is 8 yr old today,” exclaimed a third, as one X commenter added: “What a lovely photo, looking so grown up!”
“He’s growing so fast!” someone else said, as another added sad emojis and captioned their post: “He isn’t a baby anymore.”
Many commented about how the youngest is ‘growing up way too fast’, while others were debating over whether he looks more like his mum or dad.
One person compared Louis to his oldest sibling, Prince George: “All the children growing up so fast. George becomes a teenager in July!”
Some users shared some of the many iconic photos of Prince Louis that have come out over the years.
It comes after fans commented on how tall Prince George is becoming after the family was photographed at the Easter church service earlier this month.
One royal fan told the Princess of Wales that she thinks Prince George will eventually catch up with his dad, saying: “Do you know what I said to William, your husband? He’s going to be 6’4”
According to InStyle, the Princess is said to have laughed and replied: “I know, I swear, he’s catching up with everybody, isn’t he?”
Prince William is reported to be 6’3″, with Kate Middleton at 5’9″, and George appearing to be not far off already.
Prince Louis’ birthday portraits over the years
Seven
Six
Five
Four
Three
Two
One
Looking Toward the Future: The Prince’s Path
As Prince Louis enters his late childhood, the world will likely see a steady increase in his public appearances. These moments are carefully curated to ensure they remain age-appropriate. Whether he is participating in a youth-led environmental project or appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, each engagement is a “learning lab” for his future role.
The speculation surrounding his eventual career—perhaps following his father into the Royal Air Force or his grandfather into environmental advocacy—remains just that: speculation. However, the foundation being laid today suggests a young man who will be comfortable both in the spotlight and in the private sector. The “disappointment” of his no longer being a baby is replaced by the excitement of seeing the man he will eventually become.
