Prince Louis marked his eighth birthday with a new portrait that quickly prompted comparisons to his father, Prince William. Shared by Kensington Palace with the message "Happy birthday, Louis! Eight today!," the image shows the young royal smiling broadly with his arms crossed in a blue quarter-zip jumper. According to Daily Mail, the photograph was taken by family photographer Matt Porteous during the Wales family's Easter break in Cornwall. The picture adds another chapter to the long-running conversation around how closely Louis resembles William at the same age.
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Prince Louis and William Share the Same Grin
The comparison centers on a 1990 holiday photo of William at age eight during a family trip to Mallorca. In that image, the future king is pictured aboard the yacht Fortuna with a wide grin, hair falling over his forehead, and a slight squint in the sun. Louis appears strikingly similar in his new portrait, right down to the expression. Both boys are dressed in neat, relaxed outfits suited to the season, and the likeness is hard to miss. For many royal fans, the strongest link is not just their features but their almost identical smile.
Easter Appearance Added to the Buzz
The birthday portrait arrived just days after Louis joined the royal family for the Easter service at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Fans noted that the youngest Wales child looked more grown up than ever as he walked beside his parents and greeted crowds outside the church. His public image has often been shaped by playful balcony moments and animated reactions at major events, but this time he appeared calm and composed. "Young HRH Prince Louis is learning very well," one supporter said according to Daily Mail.
Birthday Portraits Trace Louis's Growth
The new image also fits into a familiar royal tradition. Since infancy, Prince Louis's birthdays have been marked with portraits that chart his growth year by year, from garden play in Norfolk to painting at home during lockdown and his first day of nursery on a bicycle. Many of those pictures were taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, giving them a personal family touch. More recent images have leaned into a polished but relaxed look, often showing Louis outdoors, smiling directly at the camera, and displaying the lively expression that has become one of his trademarks.
Old Photos Keep Strengthening the Comparison
This is not the first time royal watchers have matched Louis with childhood pictures of William. Last year's birthday photo also drew attention for its similarity to a 1990 image of William at a polo match. Beyond portraits, older photographs show father and son sharing many of the same public habits, from waving at crowds to reacting vividly during Trooping the Colour. Even their gestures from the Buckingham Palace balcony have drawn notice. The latest portrait keeps that pattern going and offers another glimpse of how strongly the family resemblance runs through the next generation.
