Happy second birthday, Prince Louis! To mark the occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released charming new photographs of their youngest child who is shown with rainbow-coloured paint on his hands. During the COVID-19 crisis, children in the U.K. have been painting pictures of rainbows and displaying them on their windows or drawing them in chalk on sidewalks as a message of hope to passersby that this storm, too, shall pass.

The official @KensingtonRoyal Instagram post reads: “Sharing a sneak peek of Prince Louis’s handiwork ahead of his second birthday. We are pleased to share these images ahead of Prince Louis’s second birthday tomorrow, taken by The Duchess this April.” The series of four photos show the Prince, wearing a blue £12 shirt from Sainsbury’s, clearly enjoying his artwork.

Prince Louis, Second Birthday, Instagram

 

Prince Louis, Second birthday, Instagram

 

Prince Louis, second birthday

 

Prince Louis, Second Birthday, Instagram

 

And today, the palace thanked people for their birthday wishes, sharing an “Instagram vs Reality” post on Twitter of the young prince’s face and hands covered in paint. It has become a welcome tradition for the Duchess to take photos of her royal brood’s birthdays and other special occasions. A talented amateur photographer, she is also patron of the Royal Photographic Society, a role previously held by the Queen for 67 years.

 

Prince Louis has joined his family – and millions of Brits – as they step to their doorstep each week, wearing National Health Service (NHS) blue, to participate in “Clapping for Carers” to praise everyone from frontline healthcare workers to shop workers who are risking their lives to keep the country going.  In this new video, the Duke and Duchess and all of their children pay tribute to essential workers for the efforts in fighting the coronavirus.

 

 

And last month, on March 23 , Prince Louis was seen putting his hands together in support of NHS, along with his older siblings, Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, who will turn five next month. To date, the coronavirus has claimed more than 18,000 lives in the country, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

 

 

Prince Charles also marked his grandson’s second birthday on @ClarenceHouse’s official Instagram account with a never-before-seen photo of him hugging Prince Louis.

 

 

Prince Charles, Prince Louis

 

Last year, the Royal Family also released a snap of Prince Louis, taken by his mother, to mark his first birthday.

Prince Louis, first birthday

Prince Louis, who is fifth in line to the throne, made his first public appearance  outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London. He arrived at 11:01 a.m. (Western European Time) on Monday, April 23, 2018, weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 7 ounces.

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