Prince Louis and Princess Kate Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William bucked tradition by not sharing a new picture of Prince Louis in the early hours of his birthday.

Royal fans keen to mark the youngster’s 6th year of life with a celebratory snap were left disappointed that his parents’ social media accounts initially stayed silent in a huge break from tradition. In the past, the royal couple have released new photos of their children on their big days right away.

This year, however, the pair waited until midday on Tuesday, April 23, to share a new snap of Louis. They also didn’t share the image with the media early, despite having traditionally provided it to the press under an embargo the day before.

The family has released a new photo of Louis every year to mark his birthday since 2019.

Prince Louis smiles for official 5th birthday portrait last year Millie Pilkington/The Prince and Princess of Wales/WPA-Pool/MEGA

Last year, the couple released a photo of Kate, 42, pushing Louis around in a wheelbarrow in Windsor for his 5th birthday. For his previous birthdays, they shared pictures of Louis that Kate, who describes herself as an amateur photographer, took herself.

The photo on his 4th year was taken at a beach in Norfolk, and on his 3rd birthday he was shown riding his bike at Kensington Palace.

For his 1st and 2nd birthdays, the couple shared snaps taken at their home.

Last month, Kate shocked the world after announcing she was undergoing cancer treatment and would be taking a break from public duties. The news came shortly after King Charles lll revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer.

William and Kate, who are also parents to Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, 8, said that they had sensitively shared the news with their children before going public