The new images were taken earlier this month during a family vacation in Cornwall. The birthday video shows Louis digging in the sand, playing cricket and running, and photographer Matt Porteous posted an extra outtake of the prince grinning in a wetsuit as if just emerging from the water. Porteous captioned the share "Happy 8th Birthday, Louis. 😎❤️," and that frame was used as the Instagram video thumbnail on the Prince and Princess of Wales' page.
Porteous has photographed William, Kate and their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis — for many family milestones, from birthdays to state banquets. He also took the first public picture of Princess Kate after her cancer diagnosis; she has since announced she is in remission. The couple often release a new portrait for each child's birthday, and Kate sometimes takes photos herself. Louis typically appears publicly only on select occasions such as holiday church services and Trooping the Colour.