Why Prince Louis’s Sixth Birthday Portrait Was Unlike Any Other

A royal expert weighs in.

Amid Catherine, the Princess of Wales's cancer battle, royal fans and observers were left wondering if Kate Middleton would continue her annual tradition by sharing an image of Prince Louis for his sixth birthday. By early afternoon in England, Louis's adorable portrait arrived, but behind the scenes, the protocol for sharing it was slightly different than in years past.

The Daily Express reported on April 23 (Louis's birthday) that Middleton's photo arrived later than normal because she is continuing to maintain her privacy as she receives cancer treatment. A past scandal also contributed to the timeline.

“This [would have been] a shame because of the vexed issue of her Mothering Day photograph,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the outlet, referring to Middleton's highly publicized Photoshop blunder on U.K. Mother's Day.

“The revelation that it was edited led to a highly embarrassing contretemps and the subsequent revelation that she was not only recovering from abdominal surgery but bravely fighting cancer. The video message when she revealed this was probably the bravest by any public figure about their health in Britain," Fitzwilliams said.

Related: Kate Middleton Has an Explanation for *That* Mother's Day Photoshop Fail

The expert explained that behind closed doors, there could have been a few discussions about what the course of action should be ahead of posting the image. By taking longer to share than normal, Fitzwilliams said the photo may “emphasize her need for time, space, and privacy, which she expressed so movingly in the message and, after the misunderstandings of recent weeks, this should be universally understood."

In the time since Louis's sixth birthday portrait release, it appears to have faced no blowback from official photo agencies that previously cited inconsistencies in Middleton's Mother's Day image. And as for Louis's actual birthday, the outlet says it was a good one. He was “surrounded by his family after his school day [was] over."

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