Like father, like son! Seven-year-old Prince William took remarkable candid photographs of his mother Princess Diana in 1989 – as Louis, six, goes behind the camera to capture Kate

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  • In 1989, a young Prince William and Harry took sweet photographs of Diana
  • READ MORE: Prince Louis turns royal photographer! Poignant new portrait of Princess of Wales taken by her son 

Prince Louis appears to be following in Prince William’s footsteps after taking an adorable picture of his mother, the Princess of Wales, to mark World Cancer Day. 

The six-year-old got behind the camera to perfectly frame the image of Kate during a walk in the woods in Windsor over the winter – echoing his mother’s known love for photography. 

Kate, 43, has long been known for her love of taking pictures – and is often the one to document important events in royal family life, such as birthdays and Father’s Day. 

But her husband Prince William has also had a go behind the camera over the years from taking Kate’s Mother’s Day photo last year to capturing the children during lockdown. 

In 1989, a young Prince William, then aged seven, captured remarkable and intimate photographs of his mother Princess Diana. 

When the photos were released in 2007, it showed the Princess as never seen before – in a candid state of joy at spending time with her boys William and Prince Harry. 

And nearly 40 years on from the photos being taken, it appears Louis is following in William’s footsteps with his own sweet picture of Kate. 

Royal fans were quick to draw comparisons between the two, as the pictures were taken when William and Louis were similar ages, writing: ‘Like father, like son!’

Prince Louis has taken this photograph of his mother the Princess of Wales at Windsor

Prince Louis has taken this photograph of his mother the Princess of Wales at Windsor

They said: ‘This one is soooooooooo cute,’ and ‘Almost made me cry!’

Some joked that that Louis was a ‘much better’ photographer than his father – and noted a much brighter future for royal family photos in the future. 

William’s picture of Diana was taken in 1989 when Diana’s close friend Carolyn Bartholomew and her son Jack visited Highgrove. 

William and Harry borrowed a camera belonging to Jack’s nanny Bruce – and the photos lay hidden for almost 18 years in a box she owned. 

The first photo was said to be taken by William and showed Diana in her classic style, beaming as she sat on the bed in a pink jumper and white shorts. 

A second photo was said to have been taken by a five-year-old Harry, showing Diana posing with her friend Carolyn while a beaming William peered out in between them. 

In a third, a young Harry held baby Jack, smiling proudly at his older brother behind the lens.  

They finally came to light in 2007 when Miss Bruce passed away and left the photographs to her friend Isabella Paton’s son, Norrie. 

Prince Louis is clearly following in his father's footsteps - as a seven-year-old William took his own candid photo of his mother Princess Diana in 1989 (pictured)

Prince Louis is clearly following in his father’s footsteps – as a seven-year-old William took his own candid photo of his mother Princess Diana in 1989 (pictured)

The candid photographs show the close bond between Prince William and Harry and Diana. Pictured in August 1987

The candid photographs show the close bond between Prince William and Harry and Diana. Pictured in August 1987

Louis and Kate clearly have a similar bond - nearly 40 years after William took the remarkable pictures. Prince Louis and Kate are pictured in May 2023

Louis and Kate clearly have a similar bond – nearly 40 years after William took the remarkable pictures. Prince Louis and Kate are pictured in May 2023

The Waleses have a shared love of photography - though it is usually the Princess of Wales taking the photos. They are pictured on Christmas Day in Sandringham

The Waleses have a shared love of photography – though it is usually the Princess of Wales taking the photos. They are pictured on Christmas Day in Sandringham

Norrie, an electrician from Dundee, then decided to share them with the world. 

He said: ‘Diana has been pictured so many times, but these are special.

‘Mary was a family friend for many years and I first saw the pictures when I was visiting my mother’s house in 1989. Mary was there, and showed them to us.

‘I said they would be a great memento and I would love to have them. She laughed and said, ‘You can have them when I’m gone – when I won’t need them any more.’

‘And true to her word, a few months before she passed away she gave my mother the pictures to give to me. Mary didn’t have any family so I suppose her gifts had to be shared out to those in her immediate circle of friends.’

Ms Paton added that Mary had told her the young Princes had taken the photographs after borrowing her camera. 

Kensington Palace yesterday issued the adorable new picture taken by Louis at Windsor to mark World Cancer Day.

A second image taken by the princess herself was also issued.

A close-up of the photo taken by Louis, which has been released ahead of World Cancer Day

A close-up of the photo taken by Louis, which has been released ahead of World Cancer Day

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It was accompanied by a personal message from Kate, reading: ‘Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease. C #WorldCancerDay’

The princess has repeatedly emphasised that spending time in nature during her own cancer journey has been extremely important for her physical and mental health, which is reflected in both images.

She is currently in remission from the disease.

The image taken by Louis shows Kate smiling joyfully, her arms outstretched during a walk in the woods over the winter.

She is wearing a peaked hat, scarf, overcoat and mittens with grey jeans tucked into knee-length boots. 

Frost covers the ferns and sunlight peaks through the bare trees.

The second image, taken by Kate, is a close up of the ferns with her own personal message.

In July the Princess issued a statement in which she talked about ‘healing power’ of nature, emphasising the strength she has taken from the outdoors world.

Prince Louis is growing into his public appearances. At Christmas (above, after the church service at Sandringham), he was given chocolate by devoted royal fans

Prince Louis is growing into his public appearances. At Christmas (above, after the church service at Sandringham), he was given chocolate by devoted royal fans 

The two images were released by Kensington Palace on social media this afternoon

The two images were released by Kensington Palace on social media this afternoon 

In September, sources close to Kate also talked about how she ‘has drawn strength from her family and loved ones and from spending time on things which bring her joy.’

They said these elements, plus ‘the sanctuary she has found in the natural world’ were all strongly represented in an astonishingly intimate video also released of the Princess with her family in Norfolk.

Kate is continuing to make a gradual return to royal duties after completing her cancer treatment last summer.

She carried out three royal engagements last week, but the events are not thought to indicate the princess is fully back to work.

The Princess announced the end of her chemotherapy treatment last September in an emotional three-minute video. 

Prince Louis was seen boldly climbing a tree as his mother watched from the ground. 

She said: ‘As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.

‘The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.

A second image taken by Kate herself was also issued along with a personal message

A second image taken by Kate herself was also issued along with a personal message

‘Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.

‘The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.

‘With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

‘This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. ‘

Prince Louis has long been known for his cheeky antics – most notably at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, when he was spotted making a series of cheeky expressions and even putting his hands over his ears during the RAF’s flypast. 

Last Christmas, when after the royals attended their traditional Christmas Day church service,  Prince William light-heartedly warned a member of the public not to give his youngest son chocolates.

Kate’s engagements last week included a visit to a Welsh children’s hospice – of which she has become patron – and then a sock manufacturer.

Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis at Sandringham. Charlotte received a pretty bouquet of flowers among other gifts

Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis at Sandringham. Charlotte received a pretty bouquet of flowers among other gifts

Kate's engagements last week included a visit to a Welsh children's hospice - of which she has become patron - and then a sock manufacturer. At the hospice, T¿ Hafan near Cardiff, Kate took part in a musical session with children suffering from life-limiting conditions and even had her hand painted red

Kate’s engagements last week included a visit to a Welsh children’s hospice – of which she has become patron – and then a sock manufacturer. At the hospice, Tŷ Hafan near Cardiff, Kate took part in a musical session with children suffering from life-limiting conditions and even had her hand painted red 

The Princess made art with her hands with the help of a young girl who painted her palm bright red

The Princess made art with her hands with the help of a young girl who painted her palm bright red

At the hospice, Tŷ Hafan near Cardiff, Kate took part in a musical session with children suffering from life-limiting conditions and even had her hand painted red to leave a permanent memory of her visit – just as King Charles had done years previously.

She was overheard discussing ‘challenging’ times for families as she spoke with parents whose children have received care from the hospice. 

She also chatted to young children, including a little girl who uses a wheelchair.

Later on in the day, Kate visited Corgi, a textiles manufacturer in Ammanford focusing on socks and knitwear. 

The Princess continues to plan a slow and measured return to royal duties.

It was little over a year ago that she was admitted to hospital for serious abdominal surgery, after which doctors found there had been evidence of cancer present.