Prince Louis turned 7 on Wednesday after a year in which his mother Princess Kate finished her chemotherapy.
Prince William and Kate released a new image of the smiling prince boasting two missing front teeth sat on a tree stump.
The whole Wales family is under far less pressure in 2025 than they were a year ago. By April 23, 2024, Kate was around a month on from the dramatic video in which she finally told the world she had secretly been having chemotherapy for cancer, having retreated from public life since the start of the year.
Prince Louis is seen in his birthday portraits released by Princess Kate and Prince William when he turned 6 [L] and 7 [R]. Prince Louis is seen in his birthday portraits released by Princess Kate and Prince William when he turned 6 [L] and 7 [R]. The Princess of Wales/Josh Shinner/Kensington Palace
In 2025, though, she is officially in remission and the family are looking forward, not backward.
William and Kate have worked hard to ensure their children live much of their lives in private, but Louis has also had several public appearances over the last year.
His first came on June 15, 2024, when Kate stepped out in public for the first time since her health problems at Trooping the Colour, King Charles III‘s annual birthday parade.
Prince Louis waves through the rain-specked window of his royal carriage during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. Prince Louis waves through the rain-specked window of his royal carriage during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. Karwai Tang/WireImage
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte look out at crowds during the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour, in London, on June 15, 2024. Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte look out at crowds during the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour, in London, on June 15, 2024. Karwai Tang/WireImage
Louis was seen watching the crowds through the rain from the window of his royal carriage during a procession through the streets around Buckingham Palace.
He sat alongside sister Charlotte, mom Kate and brother Prince George as their father, Prince William, took part in the military parade on horseback.
Later, he joined his family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force.
Prince Louis watches a flypast by the Royal Air Force alongside Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte from the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. Prince Louis watches a flypast by the Royal Air Force alongside Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte from the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Louis then provided one of the sweetest moments in a video Kate released to mark the end of her chemotherapy treatment in September.
The young prince was sat alongside Prince William while his siblings cuddled up to Kate, but the need for mom grew too much for Louis and he could be seen trying to grab Kate.
In the same video, Kate gave an indication of how important her family is to her when she said: “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted; of simply loving and being loved.”
Prince Louis was seen again supporting Kate at her annual carol service, Together at Christmas, at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6.
He lit candles with Kate and Princess Charlotte and put a message on a “kindness tree,” which showed his close bond with his grandparents.
It read: “Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.”
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis light candles during Princess Kate’s Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London, England, on December 6, 2024. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis light candles during Princess Kate’s Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London, England, on December 6, 2024. Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Louis was seen again on Christmas Day when the royal children collected gifts from members of the public who gathered outside church at Sandringham to catch a glimpse of the royals.
The young prince was seen with an armful of chocolate treats and toys after stopping to speak to royal watchers on the walk back home.
Prince Louis with an arm full of chocolates given by royal watchers on the family’s walk home from church in Sandringham on Christmas morning, December 25, 2024. Prince Louis with an arm full of chocolates given by royal watchers on the family’s walk home from church in Sandringham on Christmas morning, December 25, 2024. Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Louis has not been seen publicly yet in 2025 after the Wales family swerved their usual visit to church in Windsor on Easter Sunday in favor of remaining at Anmer Hall, their country retreat on the Sandringham Estate in the east of England.
William and Kate did though release a new birthday image of the prince to mark the occasion, which showed Louis with his grown-up front teeth coming through.
Prince Louis sits on a tree trunk as he poses for a portrait marking his 7th birthday, which he celebrated on April 23, 2025. Prince Louis sits on a tree trunk as he poses for a portrait marking his 7th birthday, which he celebrated on April 23, 2025. Josh Shinner/Kensington Palace
He wore a shirt under a dark green V-neck sweater with blue jeans and posed sat on a tree stump out in nature.
Louis will likely next be seen at Trooping the Colour in June.
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.
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