Prince Louis Just Turned 8 — and the Milestone May Be Bittersweet for William and Kate: Expert
Prince Louis turning eight marks a quiet shift, as he outgrows his cheeky phase and leaves William and Kate facing a bittersweet parenting moment.
Prince Louis, who is known for his notorious antics, is finally turning 8 tomorrow, but there is a bittersweet edge to it. As the youngest of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Louis has long been a fan favorite, mostly thanks to those cheeky, spotlight-stealing moments during public appearances.
As the Royal family prepares for a quiet celebration, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says that things are starting to shift. She suggests that as Louis gets older, he is naturally beginning to settle down a bit in public, a sign he is growing into his role. And while that is expected, William and Kate must be hit with emotions, who are now watching their youngest slowly outgrow that early, carefree phase.
Bond told The Mirror, “A tinge of sadness? Yes, it’s inevitable as your ‘baby’ shoots up and grows out of all his clothes, exerts his will and shows his independence.” She continues, “Most parents get a touch whimsical about the end of an era: the family is growing up. The baby stage has gone once and for all.”
Over the last few years, Louis seems to have toned things down a bit. According to the royal expert, those cheeky, scene-stealing moments at big events are not as common anymore. In more recent appearances, he looks much more aware of how he comes across in public. Bond said, “It was obvious at Easter when we saw the whole family at Windsor that George isn’t the only one who is getting taller. The cheeky little boy in shorts was now a very well-behaved young Prince Louis in a suit and tie.”
However, Bond emphasizes that the absence of Louis’ cheeky moments does not seem like his parents have tried to rein that side of him in. But rather, the young Prince is likely becoming more aware of being on display, which can feel a bit embarrassing at his age. Instead, she pointed out, it was Kate who took over with a small, friendly wave to the public.
Previously, veteran photographer Chris Jackson shared in his new book about how Louis gets ‘hyped up’ during royal events. Out of all the photos he has taken of Prince Louis, Jackson says his favorite has to be from Trooping the Colour 2025. Louis’ super-animated reactions to the crowd outside Buckingham Palace made the whole moment, and Jackson admitted he was completely entertained watching it all unfold through his lens. He told US Weekly, “You are just chuckling behind the long lens on the balcony because he was waving at the crowd and they were waving at him, and he was waving at them, and you could see him getting hyped up.”
