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kate louis jubilee© Photo: Getty Images

How Princess Kate broke tradition with new photos of Prince Louis

Prince Louis celebrated his fifth birthday on 23 April

Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
April 25, 2023
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The Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance in the new birthday photos of Prince Louis.

In celebration of the little boy's big day, William and Kate released a beautiful new snapshot showing Louis sat in a wheelbarrow being pushed by his mum.

It's the first time that the Princess has appeared in one of Louis’s birthday snaps – and that's not the only way she broke precedent this year.

Prince Louis is pictured being pushed in a wheelbarrow by mum Kate© Millie Pilkington
Prince Louis was pictured being pushed in a wheelbarrow by mum Kate

Louis's fifth birthday photos also marked the first time that Kate hasn’t taken the photo of her youngest son herself.

Keen photograph Kate has personally taken all the previous images of Louis on his special day.

kate middleton camera
Princess Kate is a talented photographer

For his first birthday, William and Kate released a trio of images of their youngest son, taken by the Princess at their home in Norfolk. 

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His second birthday images showed the cheeky toddler with paint covering his hands – and later his face – and sporting a blue checked shirt, while the pictures for his third birthday again showed the little prince dressed all in blue and riding his bike on his first day at nursery.

prince louis with paint© Photo: PA
Prince Louis on his second birthday

And last year, the Prince and Princess shared beautiful images of Louis at the beach, dressed in a blue and white checked shirt and a grey jumper embellished with red, yellow and blue stars – also taken by his mother.

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However, for Louis's fifth birthday, William and Kate turned to Millie Pilkington, who took the snaps in the grounds of the family's Windsor home last week. 

Prince Louis celebrates his fifth birthday on Sunday 23 April© Millie Pilkington
Prince Louis celebrated his fifth birthday on Sunday 23 April

 Millie has a longstanding relationship with the Prince and Princess, having been the private photographer at their 2011 wedding and she is known for her stunning portraits of babies and children.

Kate, an amateur photographer, former art history student, and the patron of the Royal Photographic Society, is often credited with taking the portraits of her children that are released on birthdays, the first day of school, and other special occasions.

She has a natural talent behind the camera – as top photographer Matt Porteous previously revealed to HELLO!.

kate middleton holding camera© Photo: Getty Images
Kate has previously taken all of Louis's birthday photos

"Catherine is an amazing photographer, we have both shared tips on location and talked about light, settings and styles,” he said.

"Catherine has an amazing eye for photos so will always point us in the right direction for light and backdrops. I'm always looking for the best light and will work with this in every scene."

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