Prince Louis: Kensington Palace release first official photographs of newborn royal

Images were taken by the Duchess of Cambridge

Kensington Palace has released the first photographs of Prince Louis, the newest member of the royal family born on 23 April.

The images were taken by the Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace when he was just three days old.

Louis is pictured in a white outfit propped up on top of a cushion on a seat at the family residence in London.

A second photograph shows Louis receiving a kiss from his sister Princess Charlotte, taken by their mother on 2 May, Charlotte's third birthday.

George does not appear in the two photographs released by Kensington Palace.

The palace said William and Kate were "very pleased" to share the photographs, adding: "Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank members of the public for all of the kind messages they have received following the birth of Prince Louis, and for Princess Charlotte's third birthday."

Princess Charlotte cuddles her brother Prince Louis (AP)

This is not the first time Kate, one of the world's most photographed people, has gone behind the lens and released her own pictures.

The 36-year-old Duchess is a keen amateur photographer who last year accepted a lifetime honorary membership of the Royal Photographic Society.

Kate bucked tradition when she took the official photographs of her newborn daughter in 2015.

The photos of Charlotte showed the young princess being cradled by her older brother George at William and Kate's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

Kate, a history of art graduate, has released pictures to mark other milestones in her children's lives, including George and Charlotte's first days at nursery school and Charlotte's first birthday.

PA