For fans and followers of the monarchy, a new royal portrait is always a big deal. And while any Cambridge or Sussex family moment prompts plenty of discussion, there’s a particular appetite for rare snapshots of the children – the Prince and Princess of Wales’s brood, George, Charlotte and Louis, or the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son and daughter, Archie and Lilibet.
Photographs of the three Wales children are traditionally released to mark major milestones, like christenings, birthdays and anniversaries. These family photos are often taken by the Princess of Wales herself, who is a keen amateur photographer and a patron of the National Portrait Gallery. Other portraits released over the years have captured the children welcoming their new siblings home, or slipping on their backpacks for their first day at nursery or school, and the Wales family often releases the group photo that appears on their Christmas card.
Meghan and Harry also regularly share joyful, candid snaps of their family – mostly on special occasions. This year, for Lilibet’s fifth birthday, the Duchess of Sussex posted a portrait of her and prince Harry holding their daughter, alongside another of Lilibet reaching out to touch a flower in the late spring sun. “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili,” reads the caption, beside a white heart emoji.
Below, see all of the children’s portraits over the years.
2026
In celebration of Prince George’s 13th birthday, Kensington Palace released a new portrait of the young royal – captured with his hands tucked casually into his pockets, dressed in an open-necked white shirt and dark suit. Posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales’s official Instagram account, the image – taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous – arrived with a suitably celebratory caption, “Happy 13th Birthday, George!”
