Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Christmas photo delighted everyone, but royal experts analyzed the image and expressed some concern. 2025 was a difficult year for the royal family, as it was marked by Princess Kate’s battle with cancer and King Charles III’s illness.
They appeared alongside their three children(Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis) in a family photograph taken earlier this year in Norfolk. The image, shot by photographer Josh Shinner, was captured during an April session that also produced several other official portraits of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
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Royal experts debate Kate and William’s Christmas photo
The timing of the photograph quickly drew attention online after its release in December. The presence of spring elements, including daffodils, prompted questions about why an image taken months earlier was used for a winter greeting.
Social media users highlighted the seasonal mismatch and contrasted it with the traditional Christmas settings often associated with royal residences.
Other observers pointed out that the Wales family has previously reused images from a single photo session across multiple occasions. According to longtime royal watchers, this approach has been used to reduce the frequency of photo calls and limit media exposure for the children.
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Beyond the timing, the family’s body language also became a topic of online discussion. While the photograph shows coordinated styling and a relaxed outdoor setting, some commenters focused on the expressions of Prince William and Kate, comparing the composition to past portraits.
Analysts noted in Kate and William’s Christmas photo a shift from the more formal, centered arrangement seen in their 2023 studio image, suggesting a deliberate change in tone and visual balance.
