After the controversy over the changes to a Mother’s day family photograph, Kensington Palace has assured that this picture has not been edited.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has taken a photo to mark his sixth birthday and is still receiving treatment after the cancer diagnosis.

With calls for Catherine to be given privacy while she has cancer treatment, the palace says it was aware of the difficult balance in then releasing a birthday photo of Louis, but decided to put out the picture as a way of thanking those who had sent birthday wishes.

The photograph of Louis, who is fourth in line to the throne, was taken in Windsor in the “last few days” says the palace.

The smiling picture of the schoolboy prince was published on social media with the message: “Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.”

This has been an “unprecedented time” for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family, says the palace, as Catherine continues her recovery.