Prince Louis celebrates his fourth birthday with adorable photos taken by Kate Middleton

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s son Prince Louis is ready for his upcoming birthday with gorgeous new photos showing him at the beach.

Prince Louis is growing up fast and to prove it, his royal parents have shared very grown up photos of their son enjoying the beach.

Previously, Us Weekly reported that William, 39, and Kate, 40, “planned a weekend of exciting outdoor activities for Louis’ birthday”.

The photographs of Prince Louis were taken ahead of his fourth birthday on Saturday, April 23, and they were taken earlier this month in Norfolk by his mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared photographs of Prince Louis ahead of his 4th birthday. Picture: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images

Louis’s birthday is just two days after his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s 96th birthday. Inside sources say he will be having a birthday party with his friends.

In the photos Louis can be seen playing with a cricket ball, running in the sand dunes and smiling for the camera, which is held by his talented mum who is somewhat of a family photographer.

Prince Louis ahead of his fourth birthday on Saturday. Picture: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted the photos to their official Instagram account with an adorable message.

“4 years old tomorrow!” William and Kate captioned a special post in honour of Louis’ big day.

The family of four are reportedly regulars at the beaches of North Norfolk, which is a short drive from their Anmer Hall country home.

Prince Louis ahead of his fourth birthday on Saturday. The photograph was taken in Norfolk by his mother, Catherine. Picture: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images

William and Kate are keen environmentalists and often share photos of their family while they are enjoying outdoor activities.

Last year, William and Kate shared a video that showed the children climbing the sand dunes and toasting marshmallows over a fire.

The fun photos are a contrast to those released by the Palace for Prince Louis’s third birthday in which he sported a shirt and a backpack and sat on a bike on his way to nursery school.

Prince Louis of Cambridge shortly before he left for his first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School when he turned three. Picture: AFP