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New photo taken by Kate Middleton marks Prince Louis' 3rd birthday

Tony JonesAAP
Prince Louis smiles before his first day of attending Willcocks Nursery School.
Camera IconPrince Louis smiles before his first day of attending Willcocks Nursery School. Credit: AP

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have marked Prince Louis’s third birthday by releasing a photograph of their son pictured on his first day of nursery school.

Louis is growing up fast and is shown sat on his bike in the grounds of Kensington Palace, smiling for mother Kate, who took the picture on Wednesday.

Wearing a jumper, shirt, shorts and with his rucksack on his back, the prince grips the handlebars and appears ready to cycle off to nearby Willcocks Nursery School - but was taken by car.

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Prince Louis smiles before his first day at Willcocks Nursery School
Camera IconPrince Louis smiles before his first day of attending Willcocks Nursery School. Credit: AP

Louis celebrates his third birthday on Friday and is following in the footsteps of big sister Princess Charlotte, 5, who also attended the same nursery.

His birthday is likely to be celebrated with a cake shared with his new classmates - something revealed in the testimonials on the nursery’s website.

In this undated photo released Wednesday April 22, 2020, by Kensington Palace, showing Britain's Prince Louis, who celebrates his second birthday Thursday, April 23, 2020, in this photo taken by his mother, Kate the Duchess of Cambridge.  (The Duchess of Cambridge / Kensington Palace via AP)
Camera IconPrince Louis on his second birthday. Credit: The Duchess of Cambridge/AP

Kate is a keen and accomplished amateur photographer, who in 2017 accepted a lifetime honorary membership of the Royal Photographic Society which recognised her “talent and enthusiasm”.

She regularly releases images of her children to mark important occasions like birthdays and other major milestones.

William and Kate have praised Australia's first responders.
Camera IconThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have praised Australia's first responders. Credit: AP

The two-week period of royal mourning following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh ends on Friday allowing the Cambridges to release the image.

NORFOLK, UNITED KINGDOM: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NO SALES)  (Not for use after December 31, 2021, ALL uses after this date will require permission from Kensington Palace) (The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published)This handout image provided by Kensington Palace on December 16 2020 of the 2020 Christmas card of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, features an image taken in the autumn by photographer Matt Porteous showing Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with their three children Prince George (left), Princess Charlotte (right) and Prince Louis at Anmer Hall in Norfolk. (Photo by Matt Porteous / The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace via Getty Images)
Camera IconPrince Louis (centre) with his mum, dad and siblings over Christmas. Credit: Handout/Kensington Palace via Getty Imag

The young prince was featured in a picture released in tribute to his great-grandfather, showing Philip and the Queen surrounded by their great grandchildren at Balmoral, with the monarch holding Louis.

The Cambridges’ youngest child is fifth in line to the throne.

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