Prince Louis birthday portrait taken by Kate Middleton is released on day he turns 6 - as royals thank fans for 'all the kind wishes'

Prince Louis is beaming from ear to ear in an adorable photo released to mark his sixth birthday which was taken by his mother, the Princess of Wales.

The youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrates turning six today, after returning to school following the Easter holidays.

Typically, Kensington Palace will release portraits of the Wales children early in the morning to mark their birthdays, however fans were left disappointed this morning when the social media accounts for Kate and William did not feature any photos of the cheeky six-year-old.

In a break with tradition, William and Kate shared a photo of their younger son this afternoon rather than at midnight on his birthday as is customary with new royal portraits. It is understood the photo was released later than usual because the family is going through an 'unprecedented' time.  

The photo was taken in the grounds of Adelaide Cottage by his mother, the Princess of Wales, who often photographs her children's birthday portraits. It suggests that, as she recovers from chemotherapy, she is feeling well enough to get back behind the camera. 

The Princess of Wales took Prince Louis's birthday snap to mark her youngest child turning six today 

The snap was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's social media accounts thanking royal fans for all the kind wishes they had sent to the young prince 

The caption read: 'Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.'

As the beaming prince looks into the camera, he is lying on his front and looks all grown up with his brunette hair swept to the side, and a smart checked shirt.

He appears to be wearing dark shorts with bare feet and is lying on a fleeced blanket.

The picture is understood to have been unedited, following the furore that resulted over the Princess’ photoshopped Mother’s Day picture, which saw it withdrawn by international picture agencies. She later apologised for the confusion.

Normally the couple issue a photograph of each of their children to mark their birthdays in advance for use on the day itself.

This year the Wales’ had originally decided not to do so given that it is such an ‘unprecedented’ time for their family.

As he flashes his biggest smile, the young prince also appears to have lost a couple of his baby teeth since his last official appearance on Christmas Day 2023.

The Princess of Wales announced in an emotive video message last month that she is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy

Louis's sixth birthday comes as the Wales family takes time away from the spotlight while the Princess, 42, recovers from abdominal surgery and subsequent cancer treatment.

Mother-of-three Kate revealed in March that she was undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy for a type of cancer that remains undisclosed.

In a heartbreaking video the Princess of Wales detailed how the cancerous cells were discovered, while she was undergoing surgery for a different condition in January.

She explained that she had not spoken out about it earlier because she wanted to have time to 'explain everything' to George, Charlotte and Louis and assure them 'I'm going to be ok'.

At Trooping the Colour last year, Louis got into the spirit of the Red Arrows as he appeared to impersonate a pilot

As Louis travelled in a carriage with his siblings at Trooping the Colour, Princess Charlotte, eight and Prince George, 10, he looked put off by an unpleasant smell in Horse Guards Parade

Kensington Palace released snaps of Prince Louis playing on the beach in Norfolk to mark his fourth birthday

This was also the reason the William was forced to pull out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, as it is understood that this was when the family first found out about Kate's condition.

In her emotive statement, Kate said: 'The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found that cancer had been present.

'As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.'

The last time royal fans were given a glimpse of Prince Louis, he appeared alongside his mother and his siblings in a Mother's Day photo which was later withdrawn by picture agencies around the world

The last time royal fans were given a glimpse of Prince Louis, the young prince appeared with his siblings, Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, eight, as they smiled alongside their mother Kate on Mother's Day.

The snap released by Kensington Palace, generated controversy when picture agencies around the world issued 'kill notices', over concerns it had been 'manipulated'.

Both the agencies and eagle-eyed internet sleuths noticed several inconsistencies in the photo, including in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's skirt, her hair, and the zip on Kate's khaki jacket. 

Following the social media storm, the Princess of Wales was forced to issue a statement admitting she had 'edited' the image - which had initially been hoped would quell wild conspiracy theories that had circulated about her health.

Prince Louis sweetly held hands with his second cousin Mia Tindall as he joined the rest of the royal family at Sandringham on Christmas Day

Louis held hands with his cousin, who has two younger siblings herself, as they walked into the church service

In a post on Instagram and X/Twitter, the Princess said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. 

'I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.'

Prince Louis was born on April 23, 2018 in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, like his older silings Charlotte and George. 

A statement from Kensington Palace at the time read: 'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. 

'The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.' 

Since thenm he's become known for his flair in front of the camera and has previously delighted royal fans with his expressive performances at royal events.

At Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the young royal, then four-years-old, took centre stage as the royal family appeared on the balcony.

Alarmed by the noise caused by the Red Arrows circling overhead, he covered his ears and winced.

Similarly, the youngster charmed audiences around the world with his antics at the concert held in honour of his 'Gan Gan' and her 70-year reign.

Prince Louis delighted fans with his expressive antics during the various Platinum Jubilee celebrations 

The most stylish royal! Prince Louis, then four, left royal fans in stitches as he danced to the music at the concert 

The young prince's cheeky antics went viral as royal fans were left in hysterics at his funny behaviour

During the concert, Louis was seen larking about as he played with his mother and sat on his grandfather King Charles's lap. 

Last year at Trooping the Colour, he once again stole the show with his funny antics, and delighted fans once again on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as he got into the spirit of the Red Arrows and pretended to be a pilot. 

He also made viewers chuckle as he arrived in a carriage with his siblings at Horse Guards Parade - and seemed put off by an unpleasant smell.

The prince scrunched up his face and held his nose as the carriage moved along, while his older siblings seemed unfazed by the smell. 

As Kensington Palace celebrated Louis's fifth birthday last year, Kate and William released a snap showing their youngest son's playful side and his strong bond with his mother, as the Princess of Wales was seen pushing him in a wheelbarrow while he gleefully beamed. 

The previous year, another photo of the Prince, taken by Kate, was shared by Kensington Palace which showed him playing on the beach in Norfolk.'

During Louis's last public appearance on Christmas Day 2023 at Sandringham, he put on another heart-warming display as he held hands with his second cousin, Mia Tindall, on the way to St Mary Magdalene Church.

Mia, nine, is the eldest daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, and has two younger siblings herself, Lena and Lucas.

Christmas 2023 was Louis's second time joining his family for the annual trip to St Mary Magdalene Church as he is now deemed old enough to attend.

Princess of Wales takes heartwarming photo of Prince Louis for his sixth birthday as she puts Photoshop row behind her amid cancer battle

The Princess of Wales has taken a heartwarming photo of Prince Louis to mark his birthday as she puts the Photoshop row behind her.

The royal, 42, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, is a keen photographer and traditionally releases a portrait of her children on their birthdays every year.

Louis, who beams at the camera, is seen lying on his front on a camel blanket in the grounds of the Windsor estate.

The Prince and Princess of Wales' youngest child looks all grown up with his brunette hair swept to the side.

For the occasion, the young royal wore a blue-and-brown checked shirt and matching navy shorts.

The Princess of Wales pictured holding a camera as she takes part in a a photography workshop with the charity 'Action for Children' in Kingston in June 2019

Prince Louis pictured by the Princess of Wales for his sixth birthday. The image shows the royal lying on a picnic blanket in the grounds of the Windsor estate

Sharing the image on Instagram and X, the royal couple wrote: 'Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.' 

The Princess' latest photo suggest Kate is keen to put last month's Photoshop row behind her as she concentrates on her cancer treatment.

In March, royal fans went into meltdown after Associated Press issued a 'kill notice' on a photo of the Princess of Wales and her three children that had been released for Mother's Day.

It was the first official photo that was published of Kate after she underwent abdominal surgery in January. 

That evening, the Associated Press became the first agency to 'kill' the photo over an 'inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand'.

While AP said there was no suggestion the photo was fake, it retracted it because it said on closer inspection, the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet the agency's photo standards.

The following day, the Princess of Wales admitted that she edited the Mother's Day photo herself and apologised for 'any confusion' it had caused. 

A statement from the Princess of Wales said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. 

This Mother's Day portrait - which Kate later admitted to Photoshopping - was the first official photo that was published of the Princess after she underwent abdominal surgery in January

'I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C' 

Two weeks later, the Princess of Wales announced she was battling cancer - amid mounting pressure for the Palace to comment on her condition. 

It is believed that the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis on 22 March as this was the day George, Charlotte and Louis broke up from Lambrook School in Bracknell for their Easter break. 

The announcement may have been timed so that her children would not immediately face questions in the playground after the news was made public. 

The family are reported to have spent the Easter holidays together as they adjust to Kate's diagnosis, which was discovered in post-operative tests following her major abdominal surgery.

In the emotional message, which was filmed in Windsor, Kate revealed the news had come as a 'huge shock' and that she and William 'have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family'. 

Earlier this month, Kate revealed in an emotional video message that she has been diagnosed with cancer

Speaking from a bench surrounded by daffodils and spring blossom, she said: 'It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.

'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. 

'Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.'

Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a planned operation at The London Clinic in January.

The insider also claimed to PEOPLE magazine Kate and William are also prioritising family time as 'having fun together when they can is very important'

She explained: 'In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,' she said.

'The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

'My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.' 

The announcement sent shockwaves around the world and came after weeks of speculation - and wild conspiracy theories - about her health. 

It also creates a fresh crisis for the British Royal Family at a time where King Charles is also battling cancer. In January Sarah, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer, just six months after being treated for breast cancer.