Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton have taken a modernized approach to royal protocol with the recent release of new birthday portraits of their children.
Their son, Prince Louis, celebrated his sixth birthday on April 23, 2024, while their daughter, Princess Charlotte, turned nine on May 2. Contrary to usual practice, the birthday portraits were directly shared midday on the couple’s Instagram, a move that represents a departure from the norm.
In the past, these photos would be disseminated to news organizations before the public release, allowing the press to prepare articles in advance, in accord with a timetable set by Kensington Palace.
This distribution strategy shift is believed to stem from an incident that occurred during Mother’s Day when certain media outlets decided not to use a family portrait after it was found to be heavily edited—a decision attributed to Middleton’s experimentation with photo-editing software.
Directly posting the images appears to give the royal family a greater sense of ownership over the dissemination of their images.
The precedent for this break from tradition was set in 2015 when Middleton personally photographed the first official images of Princess Charlotte, stepping away from the custom of hiring a professional for the task. Since then, she has continued to photograph her children for official occasions, despite dealing with health concerns such as abdominal surgery and a cancer diagnosis.
Despite the circumspection surrounding her health, Prince William has recently confirmed that Middleton and the family are doing well, offering reassurance at a recent royal event.
Next: Royal Updates as Kensington Palace Causes Stir among Fans with Photo of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Their 13th Anniversary
FAQs About the Royal Birthday Portraits and Traditions
Q: What has traditionally been the process for releasing royal birthday portraits?
A: Typically, official birthday portraits are given to the media in advance of public release, allowing them to create content scheduled for release at a time set by the royal household.
Q: How did the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge deviate from this tradition?
A: They chose to share their children’s birthday portraits directly on their Instagram account instead of following the standard protocol of pre-releasing the pictures to the press.
Q: Why might the Duke and Duchess have decided to change the way they release photos?
A: The decision likely stems from retaining more control over their family’s images, especially after an incident where a photo released for Mother’s Day was found to be heavily edited.
Q: Has Kate Middleton photographed her children for official portraits before?
A: Yes, Middleton has previously photographed her children for official purposes, starting with Princess Charlotte’s first official photos in 2015.
Q: How is Princess Kate’s health?
A: Although details are not extensively publicized, Prince William has assured that she is doing well, even as she has had to recover from abdominal surgery and a cancer diagnosis.
Conclusion
Embracing a more personal and direct approach to sharing their family’s moments, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton’s decision to release birthday portraits of Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte through their social media points towards a modern royal era. The Duke and Duchess, respecting their public image, seem to prioritize the authenticity of their family’s portrayal, possibly due to past experiences with media mishandling of photographs. This is reflective of a broader pattern where the royal family is opting to engage with the public on their terms. While preserving a sense of tradition, such changes signify a gradual adaptation to the digital world, balancing royal heritage with modern communication platforms.