Kate Middleton breaks tradition with Prince Louis' newly released birthday picture

The Prince and have shared a brand new picture of to mark his birthday - but it wasn't taken by keen photographer Kate. It has become tradition for pictures of her children taken by the princess to be released on their birthdays. However, ty was taken by professional Josh Shinner.

It is a marked change as last year's photo shared of Louis for his sixth birthday was taken by his mum. As were the portraits shared of and for their birthdays last year.

However, there have been several occasions when and Kate have released photos by photographers they have worked with in the past to mark their children's birthdays. For example, Louis' fifth birthday snap was taken by photographer Millie Pilkington as the snap featured Kate herself.

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Last year, Kate came under scrutiny following a photo released on Mother’s Day last year, which included a photo of her and her children said to have been taken by William in Windsor.

Questions were raised that the image – the first of the princess to have been released after she underwent abdominal surgery a few weeks earlier – may have been manipulated before it was posted on social media. It was withdrawn by international picture agencies later the same day. Kate publicly took the blame for the manipulated photograph and issued a personal apology for the "confusion". However, she has continued to take and share photos of her family.

Meanwhile, Josh Shinner, who took the new snap of Louis, has worked with the Wales family before, taking the black and white image that featured on their 2023 card. In an post after the card was released, he said: “It was such a pleasure to photograph The Prince and and their family for the Christmas portrait this year.

"Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I’ve ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…"

His new picture of Louis shows him sitting on a tree trunk, smiling and showing a gap in his two front teeth. It was accompanied by the message: “Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!” followed by a cake emoji.

The young prince is dressed in an open-necked checked shirt, dark green jumper and blue jeans, with the woodland backdrop showing a carpet of bluebells. The also shared its congratulations to Louis, reposting the image and adding “Happy Birthday to Prince Louis” followed by balloon and celebrations emojis.

Louis, who is known for his cheeky antics on the Palace balcony, is fourth in line to the throne. He was born on St George’s Day, April 23, in 2018, at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, weighing 8lb 7oz.