Prince William and Kate Middleton have just released their eagerly anticipated 2025 Christmas card.
Royal fans gather in their masses to share their thoughts on the Royal Family’s choice of festive photo to mark the special occasion, with many also keen to catch a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three children: 12-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 10, and little Prince Louis, who is just seven years old.
Last year’s Christmas card, which was taken the same day that a video was filmed where Kate announced she’d concluded chemotherapy, which she began after announcing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, came with a note which read: “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”
The 2024 card in question appeared to break major protocol, given that it was in the form of a GIF, which saw snow falling in front of a computer-generated image.
This year’s Christmas card, however, has left fans annoyed over one specific detail.
The never-before-seen image, released on Kensington Palace’s social media, shows William and Kate sitting on the grass amid spring daffodils with their three young children.
Charlotte can be seen resting her head on her father’s shoulder and holding onto his arm, while Louis looks relaxed, leaning back, sitting between William’s legs, and Kate has her arm around George.
“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas,” the card’s message reads.
Now, the snap itself was taken by photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk back in April – something which many people have taken issue with, claiming it wasn’t ‘Christmassy’ enough.
“Very lovely – but not very seasonal is it? The children change so much, so fast, it would be lovely to have a more recent picture IMHO,” penned one X user. “But thank you for sharing it with us. Happy Christmas to you all.”
Another hit out: “Where is the Christmas?”
A final X user echoed: “That photo is old and was taken in the spring.”
The heir to the throne shared his Christmas card days after the current reigning monarchs.
King Charles and Queen Camilla released their own earlier this month (7 December), opting for their 20th wedding anniversary portrait, which was taken in April, to feature in the card this year.
Charles and Camilla are pictured standing side by side, with the Queen’s arm linking the King’s, in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome.
The photograph is framed inside the card by a dark red border, with the printed message in a matching colour on the opposite side, reading: “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”
