Princess Kate sent barbed message to Harry with adorable Louis photo

14 October 2023 , 10:32

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Prince William and Harry were snapped a few times during their childhood riding bikes (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Sharing yearly photos on Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Price Louis' birthdays has become a tradition much loved by royal fans, and also proves a chance for Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, to show off her pretty impressive photography skills. It's thought the doting mum started it to give fans updates on the royal children to showcase their individual milestones.

A charming snap of one of the little royals riding a bike has led one royal commentator to raise suspicions. The photo was released back in 2021 to mark Louis' third birthday and showed the very smiley boy on his first day of nursery, red bike, and backpack in tow. An update from the finger-painting tot captured in the garden the family garden the year before.

While the bike-cladding photo may look like a sweet first-moment snap one royal commentator spoke out to say it could have been a hidden message to brother-in-law Prince Harry in response to his childhood claims. In his tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey Harry sat down with wife Meghan Markle saying that he was not able to cycle with his day when he was a child.

The photo shared by the Princess of Wales to celebrate Prince Louis third birthday back in 2021 (The Duchess of Cambridge)

Kate often shares cheeky photos of Prince Louis (UK Press via Getty Images)

When asked about what 'delights him in his new private life' Prince Harry responded that it was the thought of Archie on the back of a bicycle and taking him on bike rides which is something he said 'was never something he was able to do when young'.

And Daniella Elser, an Australian commentator, thinks the third birthday snap may have been Kate sending Harry a 'barbed message' in a subtle response to the explosive sit-down chat. Writing in a column for news.com.au she said: "It could be argued that the Duchess is highlighting that perhaps Harry has been indulging in a certain historical revisionism, something which the inhabitants of Kensington Palace did not miss."

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Elser hints at photos snapped during Prince Harry's upbringing which showed Harry cycling with his family as a child on several different occasions. One while on a family holiday in Tresco, Isles of Scilly, which shows a young Harry just balancing with his tiptoes on a small blue and silver bike.

Another capture was in 1988 on the Balmoral estate which shows a four-year-old Prince Harry sitting in the back of a mini trailer as then Prince Charles cycled. Prince William was also shared joining in on the moment up ahead on a red bike.

King Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William enjoying a bike ride together (UK Press via Getty Images)

Elser argues that the wholesome snap of Louis with his bike could also be read as a refutation of Harry's characterisation of Palace life as "toxic", showing that royal children in fact lead normal lives. Paparazzi photos of the Prince and Princess of Wales' children are very rarely taken and it's often thought that Kate's photography gives the family more control.

Elser goes on to conclude her opinion that Prince Harry did have the opportunity not for his kids to grow up without the intrusion of media. As she said: "The normal things that Harry wanted [...] were always within his reach.

"That in trading Windsor for Montecito, he was in fact giving up an excellent chance to enjoy the very same freedoms that he so clearly wants for his own family."

Milo Boyd