Prince William and Kate’s Christmas card photo sparks fan backlash

The card, unveiled on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts, shows Prince William and Princess Catherine sitting on a grassy field in Norfolk, surrounded by flowers and their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.

In the serene springtime setting, Charlotte rests her head on William’s shoulder while holding his arm, and Louis leans comfortably against his father’s chest. Princess Catherine wraps an arm around her eldest, smiling warmly at the camera. The simple message reads:

“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.”
Is it really Christmas?

While many praised the close-knit family vibes, not everyone was convinced the card fits the festive season.

One social media user asked bluntly: ”Where is the Christmas?”

Another added: “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.”

“Has there been more photoshopping?” questioned one fan, adding: “Where are Kathy’s legs? Bill only has one leg.”

A third wrote: “Why is there nothing Christmasy on the card?”

And a fourth pointed out: ”Photo taken in April.”

”Nice, but I really wish that one year they had a more Christmas / winter style photo….,” a fifth wrote.

The criticism stems from the fact that the portrait was taken back in April by photographer Josh Shinner, the same shoot used to mark George’s 12th and Louis’ seventh birthdays.

This isn’t the first time the royal family has raised eyebrows with their holiday card choices. The 2024 card, which included a computer-generated snowy GIF, also drew attention, especially since it coincided with Princess Catherine sharing a pre-recorded video announcing she had completed chemotherapy following her March 2024 cancer diagnosis.
A year of fresh beginnings

The Waleses’ 2025 Christmas card comes after a particularly challenging period for the family. William described 2024 as “brutal,” according to Sky News, while Catherine revealed earlier this year that she had fully recovered from cancer. Since her diagnosis, the family has largely stayed out of the public eye.

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