If you’ve spent any time on social media over the last couple of years, you know the drill. Every April 23, the world collectively holds its breath, waiting for a specific kind of notification. We aren't looking for a news break. We want to see how much the youngest Wales child has grown. Prince Louis birthday photos have basically become a global event, but lately, they've been a bit of a rollercoaster.
People think these photos are just cute PR. It's actually way more complicated than that.
For years, it was a clockwork tradition. Kate Middleton, an "enthusiastic amateur photographer" (her words), would snap a picture of Louis at home in Norfolk or Windsor. She’d release it at midnight on the eve of his birthday. Simple. Then 2024 happened, and the whole system broke.
The 2024 Drama That Changed Everything
Honestly, the 2024 photo was a mess before it even came out. Not because of Louis—he looked adorable as usual—but because the "Photogate" scandal from Mother's Day was still fresh. You remember that, right? The news agencies issued "kill notices" because the image of Kate and her kids was edited. It was a PR nightmare.
When Louis' sixth birthday rolled around, everyone expected the photo at midnight. It didn’t come. The morning passed. Still nothing. Royal fans were actually starting to panic.
Why the Delay?
Kensington Palace didn't drop the photo until lunchtime on his actual birthday. Why the wait? Experts like Richard Fitzwilliams pointed out that the Princess of Wales was undergoing cancer treatment at the time. She needed "time, space, and privacy." Basically, the family was dealing with a lot more than just a social media schedule.
The 2024 photo showed Louis lying on a blanket in the grass. He was beaming. It was taken by Kate, but it felt... different. There was no editing. No fancy filters. Just a raw, unedited snap of a kid turning six. It was a quiet "thank you" to a public that had been surprisingly intense about her health.
📖 Related: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
2025: Breaking the "Kate Behind the Lens" Tradition
Fast forward to April 2025. Louis turns seven. If you were expecting another grainy, sweet shot from his mom, you were probably surprised. They pivoted. Big time.
Instead of the usual DIY vibe, the palace released a portrait taken by Josh Shinner. He’s the pro who did their 2023 black-and-white Christmas card. Louis was sitting on a tree stump in a sun-drenched garden in Norfolk. He was wearing a green sweater, a plaid shirt, and—wait for it—long pants.
The Jeans Milestone
It sounds silly to care about pants, but in royal circles, this is huge. Upper-class British boys usually wear shorts until they’re about eight. By putting Louis in jeans for his seventh birthday portrait, the Waleses were signaling that their "baby" is growing up.
Plus, he was missing his two front teeth. That gap-toothed grin was everywhere on Instagram for a week.
But the real shocker wasn't the photo. It was the video.
For the first time ever, we got a behind-the-scenes clip with audio. We actually heard Louis speak. He asked, "I can jump now from here?" before leaping off a log. It was a massive departure from the stiff, silent portraits of the past. It felt real. It felt like they were letting us in, but on their own terms.
👉 See also: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
What People Get Wrong About the Tradition
Most people assume the palace has to release these photos. They don't. It’s a courtesy.
There’s a lot of talk about why Kate stopped taking the photos herself in 2025. Some say she’s still focusing on her health. Others, like the editors at Hello! Magazine, suggest it might be a move to avoid any more Photoshop accusations. If a professional like Shinner takes the photo, nobody can accuse the Princess of "tinkering" with the image in Lightroom.
It’s a smart move. It protects her and keeps the focus on the kid.
The Subtle "Easter Eggs" You Probably Missed
If you look back at the collection of Prince Louis birthday photos over the years, there’s a pattern of "hand-me-downs" and subtle nods.
- The 5th Birthday Wheelbarrow: Remember the photo of Louis in a wheelbarrow pushed by Kate? That wasn't just a garden shot. It was a deliberate choice to show a "normal" childhood away from the palace walls.
- The Rainbow Hands: Back when he was two, during the lockdown, he had paint all over his hands. That was a tribute to the NHS.
- The 7th Birthday Video: That video was likely filmed by a staffer or Shinner, but the dialogue felt unscripted. It was the first time Louis wasn't just a "face" on a card; he was a kid with a voice.
The logistics are actually kinda wild. They usually take these photos weeks in advance. The 2025 Norfolk shoot happened in early April, even though we didn't see it until the 23rd.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
Louis is the "wild child" of the family. We've seen him pull faces at the Platinum Jubilee and dance at the Coronation. The birthday photos are the one time we see the "quiet" side of him—or at least the version his parents want us to see.
✨ Don't miss: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
Moving forward, don't expect the old midnight-release routine to come back. The "new" way seems to be:
- Release on the day of (around 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM UK time).
- Mix of pro and personal. We might see more professional photographers to avoid the "editing" drama.
- Multimedia approach. Videos and Reels are the new standard.
The "Louis Effect" is real. Whatever he wears in these photos—like that green sweater from 2025—usually sells out in hours. It’s a weird mix of family album and high-stakes marketing.
If you want to keep track of the latest updates, your best bet is following the official "Prince and Princess of Wales" accounts on Instagram or X. They’ve stopped using the traditional press wires as their primary source, preferring to go straight to the fans.
Keep an eye out next April. Whether he’s jumping off logs or wearing a suit, it’s bound to be the biggest royal moment of the spring.
Next Steps for Royal Fans:
Check the official Kensington Palace archives for a side-by-side comparison of the siblings at age seven. You'll notice a massive shift in how George was photographed (very formal) versus how Louis is being presented (much more rugged and outdoorsy). You can also look into the "Cambridge/Wales Photography" archives at the National Portrait Gallery, where some of Kate's earlier work is actually part of the collection.