Prince Louis can be seen beaming having smeared rainbow colours across his cheeks in an adorable unseen picture taken by Kate Middleton to mark the royal’s 2nd birthday.
The snap, which was released on Kate Middleton, 38, and Prince William’s, 37, official Kensington Royal Twitter page today, shows the adorable Prince grinning having covered his face in paint.
Posting the hilarious image alongside one of the Prince showing off his rainbow painted hands, Kensington Palace captioned the post: ‘Instagram vs reality.’
The messy moment, which was caught on camera by amateur photographer the Duchess of Cambridge, will likely strike a cord with parents across the country.
The image was shared after an initial series of charming photos showing the well behaved royal enjoying an arts-and-crafts session as he painted rainbows to celebrate the NHS.
The playful Prince! As Louis celebrates his 2nd birthday today, his parents released this adorable snap of the youngster smearing rainbow paint across his cheeks in an outtake from his birthday photoshoot with mother Kate Middleton, 38
Supporting the NHS: These charming pictures show that – just like millions of other children across Britain – his parents are keeping him busy by painting rainbows to celebrate the NHS.
Sharing the outtake online, Kensington Palace jokingly commented it was ‘Instagram vs Reality’ with the two pictures
Posting the snaps online, the couple thanked followers who had shared their best wishes with the little royal.
Sharing a rainbow emoji, they commented: ‘Thank you for your lovely messages on Prince Louis’s second birthday.’
Taken at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, this month by his doting mother Kate, they show that Louis is growing up fast.
Gone are the little wisps of baby hair and chubby face we have been used to seeing.
Adorable: With his little hands smudged with paint and a broad grin on his face, Prince Louis is clearly pleased with his artistic creation
The young prince raised his rainbow coloured hands to his face, that were carefully painted on him by his mother Kate
Instead he is now a proper cheeky little boy, full of life just like his brother, Prince George, six, and sister, Princess Charlotte, who will turn five next month.
And talking of George, don’t the two brothers look alike with the same heart-shaped faces, rosy cheeks and enchanting gap-toothed smiles?
As we can see Louis, dressed in a blue checked shirt, also loves his arts and crafts – one of Kate’s favourite things to do with her children – and has no fear of getting his hands dirty.
Gone are the little wisps of baby hair and chubby face we have been used to seeing. Instead he is now a proper cheeky little boy, full of life just like his brother, Prince George, six, and sister, Princess Charlotte, who will turn five next month
In the photographs released to mark his birthday today, the royal can be seen beaming at the camera while creating the artwork in the gardens of his home of Anmer Hall.
He looks positively ecstatic to be getting so covered in paint as he makes a rainbow patterned handprint to stick up on the front window of the family home.
Pictures of rainbows started springing up up in windows across the country after schools closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Prince Louis looked absolutely thrilled with his rainbow coloured handprint to stick on the front window of the family home in Norfolk
They originated in Italy and quickly spread to the UK, where they are seen as a message of hope and something fun for children spot on their daily hour of exercise. Kate even carefully painted a rainbow on his hands to make a perfect print.
The NHS and its staff is something that William and Kate have put at the heart of their private and professional lives, and this week announced a new initiative to support key workers by providing a dedicated mental health support system, Our Frontline.
Their three children are also encouraged to take part in the ‘clap for carers’ every week, which will take place again tonight at 8pm.
The whole family together: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour ceremony, marking the monarch’s official birthday, in London
Royal fans were left swooning last month after the Duke and Duchess of shared an adorable clip of their children applauding the NHS.
Prince George lead Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a loud round of applause in a short clip shared on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Instagram page.
While Prince George lead the applause, Princess Charlotte could be seen offering a shy smile.
Meanwhile Prince Louis appeared to gaze up at his elder siblings as he joined their clapping tribute.
Prince William and Kate have encouraged their children to take part in the Clap for Carers each Thursday to support the NHS (pictured, the Cambridge trio applauding the NHS in March)
As well as snapping the pictures of Prince Louis’ arts-and-crafts sessions, Kate is believed to be ‘leading’ the homeschooling efforts of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, while organising playtime for Prince Louis each day.
The Duke and Duchess revealed last week how they were homeschooling their children throughout the Easter holidays to maintain structure.
Prince William and Kate said it had been ‘challenging’ to teach their three children – who they said had ‘got such stamina’, although it ‘hasn’t been all hardcore’ in an interview with the BBC.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis clap to show their support for the NHS on ‘Good Morning Britain’ in March this year