The adorable picture released of Prince Louis to mark his sixth birthday shows him grinning for the camera – and it seems several things are missing that have been noticed by royal fans
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Prince Louis: Photo released to celebrate prince’s sixth birthday
Lying on a blanket adorably posing for the camera, Prince Louis gives a sweet toothy grin in a brand new picture to mark his sixth birthday.
The unedited close-up image was released today by his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales, and was taken in the past few days by mum Kate – who announced last month that she is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer – at the family home in Windsor. The release of the new snap delighted royal fans, who had been eagerly anticipating a brand new picture of William and Kate’s youngest child. And it seems some also spotted a small detail missing from the photo that shows Louis is growing up quickly.
That’s because the six-year-old appears to be now missing several of his baby teeth at the front of his bottom row. It seems that losing his front teeth is a new development as the last time he was seen in public on Christmas Day, the teeth had yet to fall out. One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter : “Happy birthday Prince Louis, have a wonderful day. Thank you so much for sharing this delightful picture. I see the tooth fairy has been visiting – goodness time flies so fast.”
The picture was posted on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts earlier today, some six weeks after the furore surrounding the Mother’s Day portrait which Kate admitted editing.
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 aware of the fact that they have asked for privacy during the princess’s 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.
Louis goes to Lambrook School in Berkshire with his brother and sister and has recently returned to the classroom after the Easter break. It is likely a family birthday celebration, perhaps involving the prince’s grandparents, Carole and Michael Middleton, will be held after the youngster’s school day is over.
William and Kate’s youngest child is fourth in line to the throne and was 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. He was christened Louis Arthur Charles at 11 weeks old, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, in front of friends and family.
