Prince Louis's adorable tribute to NHS workers in birthday photographs

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
Updated ·3-min read
EMBARGOED to 2230 BST Wednesday April 22, 2020. Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2020, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo released by Kensington Palace of Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince Louis turns two on Thursday. (The Duchess of Cambridge)

Prince Louis has paid his own rainbow tribute to frontline workers in new pictures released for his birthday.

Prince William and Kate have released new photos of Prince Louis as the youngest Cambridge turns two years old.

In them, the youngster joins the hundreds of thousands of people across the UK who have made a rainbow poster to thank NHS workers, and to bring light during the coronavirus pandemic.

A beaming Louis proudly shows his rainbow painted hands, and the couple has also released a picture of the artwork he made.

Louis looks grown up in the images, wearing a blue gingham shirt and with his hair neatly combed.

EMBARGOED to 2230 BST Wednesday April 22, 2020. Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2020, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo released by Kensington Palace of Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Louis will spend his birthday with his family in Norfolk. (The Duchess of Cambridge)

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The tot joined his older brother and sister, Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, four, to Clap for Carers, on the first Thursday of the now weekly tradition.

Louis, whose full name is Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, was born on 23 April, 2018, the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He was christened at 11 weeks old, by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in front of friends and family.

Louis is not often seen in public – his most prominent outing was his first appearance on Buckingham Palace’s balcony, following the Trooping the Colour ceremony last summer, with his parents, siblings and other members of the royal family.

EMBARGOED to 2230 BST Wednesday April 22, 2020. Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2020, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo released by Kensington Palace of Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Louis joins the thousands of other children making rainbow tributes in the images. (The Duchess of Cambridge)
EMBARGOED to 2230 BST Wednesday April 22, 2020. Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2020, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo released by Kensington Palace of Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
In one adorable image, he puts his painted hands up to his cheeks. (The Duchess of Cambridge)

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He also visited the garden designed by the duchess at the Chelsea Flower Show, and has been photographed during family days out.

Louis is not the only royal to spend their birthday in lockdown this year. His great-grandmother, the Queen, also had to scale back birthday celebrations on Tuesday for her 94th.

Kate has previously talked about a love of baking, and with his siblings around too, the family will be able to make the most of it despite the circumstances.

The latest photos were taken by Kate earlier this month, at their home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall.

The family has been in Norfolk during the coronavirus pandemic, where the duke and duchess have had to change the focus of their work and the way they do it.

Earlier this week, William, 37, and Kate, 38, launched a new mental health initiative, giving the backing of the Royal Foundation to support those who are working on the frontline.

They have been conducting engagements and meetings by video conferencing, and writing letters to the charities they represent.

EMBARGOED to 2230 BST Wednesday April 22, 2020. Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2020, WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photographs (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. MANDATORY CREDIT: The Duchess of Cambridge. Undated handout photo released by Kensington Palace of a painted handprint done by Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, and taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
The couple also shared a picture of Louis's final artwork. (The Duchess of Cambridge)

Read more: Happy Birthday Ma'am: Royal Family shares private footage of the Queen's childhood as she turns 94

William and Kate have been speaking about life at home during the coronavirus pandemic, with Kate acknowledging how much children take in and being careful not to scare them.

William said they had made the best of video call technology to keep in touch with the children’s parents and grandparents, but joked Louis had a habit of “touching the red button”.

Kate is a keen amateur photographer and patron of the Royal Photographic Society who has regularly released pictures she has taken of her other children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to mark their birthdays.

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