EIGHT IS GREAT! William and Kate thrill royal fans with ‘unseen’ family footage of Prince Louis as the cheeky young royal celebrates his 8th birthday with a beach getaway

• Prince and Princess of Wales share a heartwarming montage of never-before-seen family moments to celebrate Prince Louis’ 8th birthday.

• The youngest Wales sibling looks ‘all grown up’ in a stunning new portrait captured on the Cornish coast.

• Royal fans are left ‘besotted’ by the glimpse into private family life, noting Louis’ striking resemblance to his father, Prince William.

Royal fans were left “besotted” on Thursday as the Prince and Princess of Wales pulled out all the stops for Prince Louis’ eighth birthday, releasing a treasure trove of unseen family footage that offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the lives of the nation’s favorite young royals.

While the public has grown accustomed to the annual birthday portraits—usually captured by the Princess of Wales herself—this year William and Kate surprised the world with an emotional video montage. The clip, shared on the family’s official social media channels, features a series of candid, “behind-the-scenes” moments of the future King and Queen alongside their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and the birthday boy himself.

A Touching Tribute

The video, which quickly went viral, was captioned with a simple yet sweet message: “Thank you for all the birthday wishes for Prince Louis. 8 is great!”

Among the highlights of the footage is a particularly touching scene of a barefoot Louis beaming with pure joy as he sprints through the sand, his hair windswept and a wide, gap-toothed grin plastered across his face. Other snippets show the three siblings playing together in what appears to be the gardens of Anmer Hall, reminding the public that despite their titles, they are very much a tight-knit, fun-loving family.

The release of the video marks a departure from the usual royal protocol, suggesting a desire from William and Kate to share more of their “normal” family life as their children grow older and the pressure of their future roles looms larger.

‘The Spitting Image of His Father’

The celebration began early on Thursday morning with the release of Louis’ official birthday portrait. Captured by the family’s long-trusted photographer, Matt Porteous, the image shows a remarkably grown-up Louis against the rugged, glorious backdrop of the Cornish coast.

The family is understood to have enjoyed a quiet, low-key getaway in Cornwall earlier this month, taking advantage of the school holidays before the young Prince returned to his studies at Lambrook School.

Sporting a cozy, fur-lined quarter-zip fleece, Louis looks every inch the confident young man. However, it was the striking resemblance to his father that had royal watchers talking. Social media was quickly flooded with side-by-side comparisons of a young Prince William from the 1990s.

“Oh my gosh, Prince Louis looks like his dad, Prince William, in this picture,” one fan gushed, echoing the sentiments of thousands who noted the shared “Windsor genes” and the identical mischievous spark in their eyes.

Another follower added: “Happy 8th Birthday, Prince Louis! What a bright, confident young man you’ve become—that smile lights up the whole day!”

Growing Up Fast

It seems like only yesterday that a tiny Prince Louis was stealing the show on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with his animated expressions and ear-covering antics. Now, at eight years old, the “baby” of the family is showing signs of the poise expected of the House of Windsor, even if his playful spirit remains clearly intact.

With Prince George now 12 and entering his pre-teen years, and Princess Charlotte a confident 10-year-old, the Wales household is moving into a new chapter. Insiders suggest that William and Kate are working harder than ever to provide a “grounded” upbringing for their trio, balancing the extraordinary demands of royal duty with the simple pleasures of beach walks and family film nights.

As Louis spends his birthday in the classroom today, he does so knowing he has captured the hearts of a nation once again. From his energetic sprints across the Cornish dunes to his sharp new look in his birthday knitwear, one thing is for certain: Louis is no longer the “toddler royal”—he is a young man ready for adventure.

Happy Birthday, Louis!

Happy birthday, Louis! 8 today! 🎈 pic.twitter.com/HrJeghz8Pw

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2026