Royal Family Releases Adorable Photo of Prince Louis to Mark His 6th Birthday

Prince Louis turned 6 years old on Tuesday, April 23, and he looked pretty happy in his new portrait. The royal family shared a photo of its youngest prince on Tuesday to mark the occasion. According to a report by PEOPLE, the picture was taken by Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales herself.

“Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today,” read the post on Middleton and Prince William’s Instagram page. The photo shows Prince Louis in a plaid shirt and slacks, lying on a blanket in a grassy field and smiling at the camera. This was a welcome moment of joy coming from the heir’s family in light of all the medical issues they are facing. Middleton is currently undergoing chemotherapy to treat an unnamed form of cancer, though the family has asked for privacy when it comes to the matter.

Considering how much she and Prince William have tried to keep that struggle out of the public eye, some fans wondered if they’d even see a birthday portrait of Prince Louis this year. The Prince and Princess of Wales typically share a new photo of their children each year on their birthdays, but this year could have easily been different.

Insiders told PEOPLE that Prince William and Middleton wanted to observe this personal tradition not just for themselves, but to acknowledge all the people who reached out that day to wish Prince Louis a happy birthday. Middleton has described herself as an “enthusiastic amateur photographer,” and this is not the first time she took one of her kids’ pictures for an occasion like this. However, they have sometimes turned to professional photographers as well.

The next birthday portrait is coming up fast, as Middleton and Prince William’s second child, Princess Charlotte, turns 9 years old on May 2. After that, Prince George’s birthday is July 22. He will be 11 years old this year. As the eldest, Prince George is next in line for the throne behind his father and King Charles III.

The king is also undergoing cancer treatment right now, and details are scarce on his case as well. The king does not seem to be undergoing chemotherapy like Middleton, and his outpatient treatment still allows him to carry out his official duties from the palace. However, both he and Middleton have canceled all of their public engagements indefinitely. Social media posts like this one may be admirers’ best chance to hear from them for a while.