Prince Louis turned eight, and as is customary for the Waleses, the celebration came with new content posted directly on social media.
Princess Kate and Prince William first shared a photo on Instagram, taken during a family vacation in Cornwall, showing Louis leaning on the railing of a boat, arms crossed, wearing a huge smile and a chunky blue sweater.
The background is the sea. The photographer was Matt Porteous, who is practically an honorary member of the family by now. The caption was simple and straightforward: “Happy birthday, Louis! 8 today!”
Then came the video, and that’s where things really got good. The footage shows Louis playing cricket on the beach, digging in the sand with a shovel, and—my favorite—diving into the sea from a boat.
The video is completely in line with who this boy is. His parents accompanied the clip with a brief and warm message: “Thank you for all the birthday wishes for Prince Louis. 8 is great!”
One thing I find interesting and worth mentioning is that each year, the Waleses choose a trusted photographer to mark their children’s birthdays, and the image is often laden with symbolism without it being obvious.
This time, the image of Louis on a boat has its own logic, as his great-grandfather Prince Philip was Admiral of the Fleet, his grandfather King Charles commanded HMS Bronington, and even his namesake Lord Mountbatten was First Sea Lord.
Louis is fourth in line to the throne, and for years, he has been stealing the show at every royal event with his playful expressions, his mischievous antics on the Buckingham balcony, and that temperament that no protocol has managed to fully tame. Happy birthday, Louis!