In Pictures: Prince Louis of Cambridge as he turns 3
Prince Louis’s third birthday marked with picture of young royal on his bike
Prince Louis of Cambridge, who is celebrating his third birthday this week, was born on patriotic St George’s Day in 2018.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have marked Prince Louis’s third birthday by releasing a photograph of their son pictured on his first day of nursery school.
Louis is growing up fast and is shown sat on his bike in the grounds of Kensington Palace, smiling for mother Kate – who took the picture on Wednesday.
Wearing a jumper, shirt, shorts and with his rucksack on his back, the prince grips the handlebars and appears ready to cycle off to nearby Willcocks Nursery School – but was taken by car.
Louis celebrates his third birthday on Friday and is following in the footsteps of big sister Princess Charlotte, aged five, who also attended the same nursery.
Prince Louis’s third birthday marked with picture of young royal on his bike
Kate is a keen and accomplished amateur photographer, who in 2017 accepted a lifetime honorary membership of the Royal Photographic Society which recognised her “talent and enthusiasm”.
She regularly releases images of her children to mark important occasions like birthdays and other major milestones.
The young prince was featured in a picture released in tribute to his great-grandfather, showing Philip and the Queen surrounded by their great-grandchildren at Balmoral – with the monarch holding Louis.
Prince Louis in a photo released to mark his second birthday
Louis shows off his coloured fingers
Prince Louis’ rainbow handprint poster – a symbol of hope
He is fifth in line to the throne, a great-grandchild of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh – and a younger sibling of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and newborn Prince Louis outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital
The prince, who weighed 8lb 7oz, made his debut as a newborn in Kate’s arms as his proud parents showed him off to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, just hours after he was born.
The name Louis was already one of George’s middle names and pays tribute to the Prince of Wales’s great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA.
Prince Louis in his car seat as he is taken home to Kensington Palace from hospital
William and Kate released photos of their son soon after – including one of him being cuddled by his big sister Charlotte on her third birthday when Louis was only about a week old.
Louis was sleeping soundly, as Charlotte put a protective arm around her baby brother and planted a kiss on his forehead.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share two photographs of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, taken by The Duchess at Kensington Palace.
This image was taken on 2nd May, on Princess Charlotte’s third Birthday. pic.twitter.com/H5VVgIwRGp
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 5, 2018
The prince was next seen fast asleep at his christening in July.
He was baptised at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, and his godparents include Guy Pelly – who was once dubbed William and the Duke of Sussex’s “court jester” for his wild ways.
Kate with Louis at his christening
Louis has inherited the brown Middleton eyes, dark brows and button nose from Kate’s side of the family.
He was pictured with his royal relatives, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, in photos released to mark Charles’s 70th birthday in November 2018.
Two new photographs of The Prince of Wales and his family have been released to celebrate HRH’s 70th birthday.
The photos were taken by Chris Jackson in the garden of Clarence House. pic.twitter.com/A2LTJDTdvE
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) November 13, 2018
Later the same month, Kate revealed as she met the public during a visit to Leicester University: “ I can’t believe he’s seven months now. He’s getting a big boy.”
Sporting a grin, the prince was shown surrounded by his siblings and parents in the grounds of Anmer Hall in Norfolk for the family’s official Christmas card in 2018.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photograph of their family.
The photograph, taken by Matt Porteous, shows The Duke and Duchess with their three children at Anmer Hall, and features on Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year. pic.twitter.com/6XqCMlhLi8
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 14, 2018
In March 2019, Kate revealed on a visit to a children’s centre that Louis, then about 11 months old, was “bombing around” on a walker.
He turned one in April 2019, with William and Kate releasing images of their youngest, showing his rosy cheeks and two bottom front teeth.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to share three new photographs of Prince Louis ahead of his first birthday tomorrow 🎈
The photographs were taken earlier this month by The Duchess at their home in Norfolk. pic.twitter.com/VOJ7rhKthz
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 22, 2019
There was a family outing for the Cambridges when they all explored Kate’s Back To Nature garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in May.
Louis was seen toddling around and having a go on the rope swing, as did William.
🍃 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share some new photographs of their family as they visited the #RHSChelsea Back to Nature Garden.
The photographs were taken by Matt Porteous. #ChelseaFlowerShow pic.twitter.com/mT95MT88xA
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2019
The children had all contributed to their mother’s garden.
They collected leaves, moss and twigs in the months before – and Kate incorporated the foliage into the surroundings of the campfire.
The #RHSChelsea Back to Nature Garden, designed by The Duchess and award-winning landscape architects Andrée Davies and Adam White of @Davies_White Landscape Architects, is a woodland setting for families and communities to come together and connect with nature. pic.twitter.com/zCGdl2zuS8
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2019
The prince made his first appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the Trooping the Colour celebrations in June.
He sucked his thumb and clapped and waved at the crowds to the delight of Kate.
William and Kate with their children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Place
Louis was also seen running around at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day in the summer, and sat on Kate’s lap as the duchess and her children enjoyed a picnic, with George sitting in the back of their car.
Kate and her children at the polo
The prince, who is growing up mostly away from the media spotlight, was pictured months later arriving for the Queen’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.
The 20-month-old royal was driven to the annual family gathering by his mother.
Prince Louis arriving for the Queen’s Christmas lunch
Kensington Palace wished its Twitter followers Merry Christmas with a black and white image of the Cambridge children and their father.
William, who was wearing a flat cap, was shown kissing Louis’ cheek in the image taken by Kate.
🎄 Merry Christmas to all our followers!
This photograph of The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis was taken by The Duchess of Cambridge in Norfolk earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/40j3Xg36Q4
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 25, 2019
And Louis proudly joined in with a Clap for Carers in March while in lockdown.
The young royal was pictured standing between Charlotte and George as they paid tribute to NHS staff working tirelessly to help those with the Covid-19 illness.
To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you.#ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS pic.twitter.com/XnaUPJyDoX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2020
Louis glanced up at both his sister and brother as they were filmed at home by their parents while staying at their Anmer Hall mansion.
Kate has told how she and William are sticking to a “pretty strict routine” for their children while socially distancing at home.
Louis photographed at home by Kate
But the duchess confessed: “It gets a bit hectic, I am not going to lie, with a two-year-old.”
The Press Association
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