The Prince and Princess of Wales have unveiled their 2025 Christmas card, and while the family portrait is heartwarming, it’s left some royal fans questioning one unexpected detail.
The new picture, released on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts, shows the royal couple sitting on a grassy field in Norfolk surrounded by flowers and their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
Charlotte rests her head on Prince William’s shoulder and holds onto his arm, while Louis leans back against his father’s chest.
Princess Catherine is seen with her arm around her oldest son, smiling in a relaxed, spring setting.
The message on the card reads simply: “Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.”
Social Media Response
Though many praised the family's closeness in the picture, some weren’t thrilled about the springtime aesthetic in what is meant to be a festive holiday card.
One user questioned: "Where is the Christmas ?" while a second chimed in: “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."
A third echoed: “Why is there nothing Christmasy on the card?" while a fourth added: "Photo taken in April."
Their criticism stems from the fact that the picture was taken back in April by photographer Josh Shinner, the same shoot used to mark George’s 12th and Louis’ seventh birthdays.
In addition to this, the image appears to follow a pattern for the royals, whose 2024 card also raised eyebrows after breaking protocol with a computer-generated snowy GIF.
That card had been released the same day as Princess Catherine's pre-recorded video revealing she had concluded chemotherapy following her March 2024 cancer diagnosis.
A fresh start for the Waleses
This year’s card comes after a challenging period for the family, with William previously describing 2024 as “brutal," per Sky News.
Earlier in 2025, the mom-of-three shared that she had recovered from cancer, and the family has since moved into Forest Lodge, their new eight-bedroom home in Windsor Great Park, a move seen as a fresh beginning.
She also recently hosted her fifth Together at Christmas carol service, celebrating those who make a difference in their communities.
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The royal couple is expected to spend Christmas Day with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Sandringham.
King Charles and Camilla released their own Christmas card earlier this month on December 7.
Their card features a portrait taken in April to mark their 20th wedding anniversary, showing the couple standing together in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome.
The photo is framed with a dark red border and carries a traditional message: “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”