New Prince Louis photo released to mark 7th birthday

CNN - Apr 23rd, 2025

Britain's Prince Louis celebrated his 7th birthday with a newly released photo, shared by his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, on their social media accounts. The image, taken by British photographer Josh Shinner, features Louis sitting on a log, dressed in a collared shirt, green V-neck sweater, and jeans, with a charming smile showing his missing two front teeth. This tradition of sharing birthday portraits continues, underscoring the family's engagement with the public through personal glimpses into their lives.

Prince Louis is the youngest of the three children of William and Catherine and is fourth in line to the British throne. The release of such images not only marks personal milestones within the royal family but also maintains the public's interest and connection with the younger generation of royals. The involvement of professional photographers at times, alongside Catherine's own photography skills, adds a touch of prestige and variety to these annual releases, reinforcing the blend of formality and approachability that characterizes the modern British monarchy.

Royal Family Birthday Prince William Catherine, Princess Of Wales Photography Prince Louis British Monarchy Josh Shinner

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RATING

7.4

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a clear and largely accurate account of Prince Louis's 7th birthday, focusing on the release of a new photograph. It is well-timed and engaging for audiences interested in the British royal family. However, the article could benefit from more diverse sourcing and greater transparency about its methodology and potential biases. While the piece is informative and celebratory, it lacks depth in exploring broader public interest issues or potential impacts. Its clarity and readability make it accessible, but its potential to provoke meaningful discussion or controversy is limited. Overall, the story succeeds as a light-hearted piece but could be enhanced with additional context and perspective.

Accuracy

The story is largely accurate in its claims about Prince Louis's birthday and the release of his photograph. The date of Prince Louis's birthday is correctly stated as April 23, and the release of the photo on social media by his parents aligns with known practices. The involvement of photographer Josh Shinner is also confirmed. However, the mention of Mario Testino and Chris Jackson as previous photographers, while plausible, is not directly supported by the latest sources related to this specific event. Overall, the factual elements are well-supported, but some historical context requires further verification.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view focused on the personal milestone of Prince Louis's birthday. It includes information about the family tradition of releasing birthday photos, offering a glimpse into royal family practices. However, the story is predominantly positive and lacks critical perspectives or broader context about the implications of such media releases by the royal family. The piece could benefit from a more comprehensive exploration of the public's perception of these traditions.

Clarity

The language of the article is clear and concise, making it easy for readers to understand the main points about Prince Louis's birthday and the associated traditions. The structure is logical, with a straightforward presentation of facts. The tone is neutral and appropriate for the subject matter, contributing to the overall clarity of the piece.

Source quality

The story relies on information from royal social media accounts and previous coverage of similar events. While these are credible sources for the specific content discussed, the article does not cite diverse or independent sources that could provide additional context or verification. The reliance on social media as a primary source limits the depth of the reporting and the potential for independent verification of claims.

Transparency

The article provides basic information about the occasion and the photograph but lacks transparency about the methodology used to gather this information. There is no disclosure of potential biases or conflicts of interest, such as the relationship between the media and the royal family. Greater transparency about the sources and the context of the photo release would enhance the article's credibility.