Kate and William mark Prince Louis's birthday with portraits of him making colourful rainbow artwork

The young Prince joined children around the world to create colourful artwork to support front line workers

Prince Louis celebrates his second birthday on Thursday. The Duchess of Cambridge

Prince William and Kate's youngest son was born on April 23, St George's Day. The Duchess of Cambridge

The series of portraits show the young prince creating rainbow artwork - part of an international campaign of hope by children around the world.The Duchess of Cambridge

The photos taken by his mother, Kate the Duchess of Cambridge, show he rainbow-painted hands after making the artwork. The Duchess of Cambridge

The finished artwork by Prince Louis. The Duchess of Cambridge

Prince Louis of Cambridge, the youngest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, has been photographed making colourful rainbow posters as a symbol of hope to mark his second birthday.

Several new photographs were released on Thursday to mark the young prince’s birthday, which he will be celebrating at home in Norfolk as the UK remains on lockdown.

In one of the pictures, Prince Louis's handprint can be seen in a colourful rainbow pattern, joining the campaign by children around the world to create rainbow patterned pictures as a symbol of hope.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge cradle a newborn Prince Louis. Getty Images

The pictures were taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, who is a keen photographer. It is becoming quite the royal tradition for her portraits of her children to be released to mark their birthdays, with a similar series of pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte also released in the past.

In other pictures, Louis is seen smiling at the camera, displaying his brightly coloured hands after making the artwork. The artwork is likely the result of the family’s home school lessons, with Kate recently saying she had set up a make-shift classroom for the children.

"It's just having that bit of structure, actually. It's great, there are so many great tips online and fun activities that you can do with the children so it hasn't been all hardcore," she said.

However, after sharing the initial photos, Kensington Palace confirmed that things got a little messier during painting than first appeared, sharing an "Instagram vs Reality" moment showing the young prince with rainbow paint smeared across his face.

Prince Louis's grandfather, Prince Charles, also shared a touching birthday tribute to his grandson, as Clarence House shared a black and white photograph of him cradling Louis.

Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge was born on St George's Day, 23 April 2018, at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, weighing 8lb 7oz. He is fifth in line to the throne.