Prince Louis's official christening photos released by the royal family

The snaps were taken in Clarence House

Kensington Palace has released four official photos to mark Prince Louis’s christening.

Taken by leading celebrity portrait photographer Matt Holyoak, who also photographed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their 70th wedding anniversary, the snaps show the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with all of their children for the first time.

A larger group shot features the royal baby alongside his closest relatives, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Carole and Michael Middleton.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis pose for an Official Portrait following the christening of Prince Louis taken in the Morning Room at Clarence House in St James's Palace on July 9, 2018. (Matt Holyoak/Camera Press)

Most of the images were taken in the Morning Room at Clarence House on 9 July, shortly after the ceremony at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, where Prince Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince Louis in her arms on the grounds of Clarence House (Matt Holyoak/Camera Press)

One photograph shows the Duchess of Cambridge in the garden at Clarence House cradling Prince Louis in her arms, who is wearing a traditional white christening gown.

While neither the Queen nor Prince Philip attended the christening due to a “mutual agreement” with the Cambridges that is not thought to be health-related, savvy royal fans have spotted the Queen’s portrait hanging in the background of the group photograph.

(Matt Holyoak/Camera Press (Matt Holyoak/Camera Press)

Her Majesty's portrait hangs alongside one of the Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw.

Holyoak is one of the world’s most sought-after portrait photographers, having worked with a plethora of famous faces including Jennifer Lawrence, Gary Oldman and Jude Law, and has taken images for a number of leading fashion magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar and Dazed and Confused.

A number of his photographs have also been acquired by The National Portrait Gallery - where The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron - to form part of their permanent collection.

"I was truly honoured at being asked to take the official photographs at the christening of Prince Louis, and to witness at first hand such a happy event,” he said.

"Everyone was so relaxed and in such good spirits, it was an absolute pleasure.

"I only hope I have captured some of that joy in my photographs."

Kensington Palace has also released one further image to mark the christening, a more candid snap taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous.

(PA/Matt Porteous (PA/Matt Porteous)

The picture, which was posted by the Palace on Twitter, is taken from the side and shows the Duchess of Cambridge holding Prince Louis making a colourful expression in the grounds of Clarence House.