In celebration of Prince Louis’ sixth birthday, his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, shared an endearing snapshot captured by his mother, Catherine.

“Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis!” the royal couple captioned the image in a post on X, accompanied by a cake emoji. “Thank you for all the kind wishes today.”

The photo credit was attributed to the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly known as Kate Middleton. This post marks the first personal update shared by the account since Kate revealed in March that she is undergoing cancer treatment.

Kate and her husband, William, opted to inform their three children — George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 6 — privately about her cancer diagnosis before making it public. “As you can imagine, this has taken time,” Kate stated in a video message posted in March. “It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.”

The photo of Louis follows a controversy involving a family portrait released on March 10, Mother’s Day in the U.K. The photo featuring Kate, George, Charlotte, and Louis was subsequently withdrawn by multiple photo agencies after concerns were raised about potential manipulation.

In response, Kensington Palace issued an apology from Kate the following day. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she expressed on X. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

Traditionally, William and Kate release new photos each year, often captured by Kate herself, to mark the birthdays of their children.

Louis was last seen in public on Christmas Day alongside his family as they walked to church on King Charles III’s Sandringham estate. During the outing, he held hands with his father and with Mia Tindall, daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall.

Known for his charming antics, Louis has delighted royal enthusiasts and photographers alike with memorable moments, such as his playful gestures at the annual “Trooping the Colour” parade last summer.

Earlier that year, Louis captivated onlookers with a big yawn and curious gaze during his grandfather Charles’ coronation.

The 6-year-old prince attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, England, and returned to class with his older siblings after spending Easter break with his family. His sister, Charlotte, is set to celebrate her birthday on May 2.