Royal fans draw comparisons to Prince Louis, 4, as Kate Middleton shares new baby picture

The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet baby picture of herself with her father as she launched her campaign to shine a spotlight on the ‘early years’ of childhood. 

A joyful young Kate is pictured with her father Michael Middleton in a never-before-seen photograph taken by her mother Carole. 

In the image, Kate, now 41, reaches towards her father’s face – and royal fans are already drawing comparisons to the royal’s youngest son, four-year-old Louis.

It comes as the mother-of-three kicked off her new ‘Shaping Us’ initiative on Monday with a glitzy reception at BAFTA in London.

The campaign hopes to ‘raise awareness of the life-changing impact we can have, when we build a supportive, nurturing world around children and those who care for them’ in their early years.

The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet baby picture of herself with her father as she launched her campaign to shine a spotlight on the ‘early years’ of childhood

In the image, Kate, now 41, reaches towards her father’s face (left) – and royal fans are already drawing comparisons to the royal’s youngest son, Louis (right)

Royal fans were quick to point out similarities between a young Kate and her four-year-old son, Prince Louis

Sharing the new photograph on social media, Kate said ‘faces are a baby’s best toy’.

She added: ‘This weekend, we’d love for you all to spend time with your friends, families, colleagues and communities talking about your early childhoods and how they’ve shaped your lives. 

‘I hope you’ll also consider joining me in sharing a picture of yourselves before your fifth birthday to help with those conversations and to share some smiles and memories too.’

Royal fans were quick to point out similarities between a young Kate and her four-year-old son, Prince Louis.

One said: ‘At first glance I thought that was a photo of Louis!!’

Another added: ‘How much did Louis look like his momma at the same age?’

A third commented:  ‘Wow, that pic is Louis through and through!’

Sharing the new photograph on social media, Kate said ‘faces are a baby’s best toy’

The Princess of Wales has launched her new initiative – described as her ‘life’s work’ – to shine a spotlight on the crucial ‘early years’ of childhood. It will receive an ambitious advertising blitz in cinemas and on billboards across the country.

On Tuesday, Kate appeared in a promotional video which was shared on her social media pages, donning a smart green blazer with a black round-neck top underneath.

She said: ‘Our early childhood, the time from pregnancy to the age of five, fundamentally shapes the rest of our lives.

‘But as a society we currently focus much more of our time and energy on later life.’

Kate added: ‘To raise awareness of the life-changing impact we can have, when we build a supportive, nurturing world around children and those who care for them.

The Princess of Wales appeared in a new video which was shared on her official social media pages

One royal fan said: ‘At first glance I thought that was a photo of Louis!!’ Pictured: Prince Louis

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‘By focusing our collective time, energy and resources on these most preventative years, we can make a huge difference to the physical and mental health and happiness of generations to come.’  

The campaign, which launched formally on Tuesday, is a long-term project for the princess, beginning with how a child develops and the importance of the formative years. 

It will ‘explore in more depth the importance of a child’s social and emotional world’ and the significance of relationships, surroundings and experiences.    

The multi-media campaign is part of a major push by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, set up by the princess in June 2021, to raise awareness of how our early years mould our lives. 

Kate made a stylish splash in a red trouser suit as she launched the campaign in London

The project, which launched formally on Tuesday, is a long-term project for the princess, beginning with how a child develops and the importance of the formative years

It is set to run for at least five years, and has been described by a Kensington Palace spokesman as the princess’s ‘life’s work’. 

The princess spoke passionately about the campaign in an open letter published in last weekend’s Mail on Sunday, in which she set out her plan for ‘Shaping Us’.

Reports produced by the Early Childhood centre have revealed that the first five years shape future wellbeing more than any other stage of development, with our brains growing faster than at this time than any other. 

It also hopes to ‘break the cycle’ for parents who experienced difficult childhoods themselves.

Palace aides say the idea for the project began even before Kate became a mother.