The Princess of Wales has delighted royal followers by sharing a nostalgic photograph of Prince Louis at just one year old, alongside a Halloween message.
Catherine posted the charming image on social media on Saturday morning, showing the young prince engrossed in an autumn tradition as he played with a pumpkin.
Now eight, Louis appears in the photograph wearing a blue raincoat and tiny red boots. Smiling broadly, he leans towards the large pumpkin, seemingly captivated by it.
The Princess of Wales took the photograph herself and accompanied it with a simple caption: ‘Happy Halloween!’
William and Catherine, both 44, are believed to enjoy marking Halloween on October 31. Catherine has previously been seen taking Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis trick-or-treating.
Doorbell-camera footage from 2022 showed the princess waiting outside a home with the children’s treat bags while the youngsters, dressed in adorable costumes, stood at the door.
Despite those occasional glimpses, Halloween is generally a private family occasion for the Waleses, who are keen to provide their children with as ordinary a childhood as possible away from intense public attention.
This is thought to be the first time the couple have publicly acknowledged the holiday.
The Princess of Wales shared this adorable throwback photograph of Prince Louis at one as she wished fans a happy Halloween
Prince Louis, now eight, and his family are believed to celebrate Halloween privately as the Waleses seek to give their children as normal a childhood as possible
The sweet image quickly won over royal fans, particularly as Louis has made a number of public appearances during the year.
He marked his eighth birthday with a family trip to Cornwall, travelling with both parents and his siblings.
During the summer, he was also photographed attending the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Wearing a Welsh bucket hat, the young royal grinned from the stands while watching cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Louis appeared fully caught up in the action, biting his nails, gasping and pointing as he sat between George and Charlotte to follow the competition.
His lively and mischievous character has made him a particular favourite with audiences around the world.
That familiar cheeky grin was once again visible as he reacted to the events inside the velodrome, recalling his memorable appearance at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, when his antics stole the spotlight.
Catherine, an enthusiastic photographer, took the pumpkin portrait against a backdrop of the family’s well-known appreciation for nature. Earlier this week, she highlighted the benefits of the outdoors during a visit to a mental health charity.
The princess visited Dose of Nature, a pioneering organisation in Kew, south-west London, which supports wellbeing through clinical psychology and a stronger connection with the natural world.
As part of her continuing work to understand and support mental health, Catherine toured the charity’s Richmond-based Pensford Field site and helped conclude its weekly ‘Art in Nature’ session.
During her visit, Kate spoke with Tom – a former participant of the programme who now volunteers as a Nature Guide at the charity – who shared the positive impact being outside has had on his self-confidence and resilience.
‘Our journey has been very very different, but it’s so wonderful to hear how your nature connection and how it’s been so healing for you, and I felt the same,’ Kate shared with Tom.
‘The fact that you’re able to provide that to so many other people in this community; that sense of purpose and meaning, and belonging, through that experience.
‘I think it is something that has got the longevity and the sustainability of feeling like, almost without knowing what’s to come, without having the control in your life of knowing what the future might hold.
‘The fact that you feel that you can cope with things, because you feel that interconnection, I think that makes it holistic in a very true essence.’