Family portraits feature prominently on Christmas cards, and this cherished tradition is no exception for royal families. Each year, these cards celebrate joyful moments and offer heartfelt wishes.
However, the 2025 card from the Prince and Princess of Wales stirred quite a conversation online due to an unexpected element that caught everyone’s attention.
Throughout the years, King Charles and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have made it a custom to share festive family photographs.
\These images often reflect key milestones of the year and provide a peek into their private lives. Such traditions date back to the early 1800s, with handmade cards crafted by Queen Victoria’s children still being preserved today.
Official photos of the royal family began with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, transforming these images into a medium to foster a connection with the public and extend holiday goodwill.
This year, when Prince William and Kate released their Christmas card, although the image exuded warmth, a particular detail heightened social media chatter. Seen yet?
Shared via Kensington Palace’s social media, the card features an outdoor, spring-like family portrait. Seated comfortably in Norfolk’s picturesque meadows surrounded by flowers, Prince William and Princess Catherine posed alongside their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven. The calm setting captures Charlotte comfortably perched on William’s shoulder, holding his arm, while Louis snuggles against his father’s chest. Catherine tenderly wraps an arm around George, radiating a warm smile. The message reads simply:
“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.”
Is It Really Christmas?
While many praised the family’s closeness, others felt the image lacked seasonal flair. One social media commentator bluntly inquired, “Where is the Christmas?” Another added, “Very lovely – but doesn’t feel all that festive. The children change so rapidly; a more current picture would be delightful, IMHO.”
Speculation about photo alterations surfaced too, with remarks like, “Has there been more photoshopping? Where are Cathy’s legs? Bill only has one leg.” Another shared, “Why isn’t there anything Christmasy on the card?” Others noted, “Photo taken in April.”
“Nice, but I really wish that one year they had a more Christmas/winter style photo…,” remarked one observer.
The critique stems from the realization that the photo was taken in April by photographer Josh Shinner, part of a shoot commemorating George’s 12th and Louis’ seventh birthdays.
Not the first stir in royal holiday storytelling, their 2024 card featuring a digitally-generated snowy scene, also caught eyes, coinciding with Catherine’s video update post-chemotherapy following her March 2024 cancer diagnosis.
A Year of New Beginnings
The 2025 Christmas card comes after an arduous period for the Wales family. According to Sky News, Prince William described 2024 as “brutal,” while Catherine announced her recovery from cancer earlier this year. The ordeal led to a decrease in their public appearances.
William reflected, telling The Times, that it had been “the hardest year of my life.” Catherine has been in remission since January and the family now anticipates brighter days ahead. They have also moved to Forest Lodge, a spacious eight-bedroom house within Windsor Great Park, signifying another new chapter. Furthermore, Catherine recently facilitated her fifth Together at Christmas carol service, spotlighting community heroes contributing positively to society.
Christmas Plans with the King and Queen
The BBC reports that Prince William and Princess Catherine will join King Charles and Queen Camilla over Christmas Day at Sandringham.
The King and Queen unveiled their own Christmas card on December 7. Taken in April during their 20th wedding anniversary celebration at Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome, the card featured a traditional red frame, conveying this simple wish:
“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”
