I always give the Duchess of Cambridge “credit” for insisting on color-coordinating her family. I think that’s on Kate because I don’t imagine that William cares one way or the other. Kate, I feel, has had some hits and misses with the color coordination. This Christmas photo of the Cambridge family might be one of the misses! Like, I actually enjoy the shades of blue. Blue is my favorite color, same as Kate. I like that William, Kate, Charlotte and George are all wearing different vibes on blue. But… not for Christmas?? I’m not saying I need to see Will in a Rudolph sweater, but can I get something, ANYTHING with some Christmas vibes??
The Cambridges published this Christmas portrait (is it though?) online this morning. According to their official announcement, this was taken AT Kensington Palace. Imagine that – you’re living in one of the most beautiful and famous historic homes in the world, and you choose to bring in a plain white backdrop…? This is what appeared on their Christmas card too. Oh, well. At least the kids are adorable. KP also made an announcement about Charlotte’s nursery school:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photograph of their family. The image features on Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year. The photograph was taken earlier this year by @ChrisJack_Getty at Kensington Palace.
Their Royal Highnesses have also announced this morning that Princess Charlotte will attend the Willcocks Nursery School in London from January 2018.
The Willcocks Nursery School has said: “We are delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen the Willcocks Nursery School for Princess Charlotte. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte to our nursery in January.”
[From Kensington Royal Twitter]
There was the belief that once Charlotte got old enough, she would attend Thomas’s Battersea, same as George. Like, that is Kate’s priority – she wants to send her son and daughter to the same co-ed school for as long as possible, before the demands of The Firm take hold and George is shipped off to posh all-boys schools like Eton. Something to look forward to!
Also: here’s Charles and Camilla’s Christmas card. This one is at least glamorous. Diamonds are Christmas-y!
Here is this year’s official Christmas card from The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
The photograph was taken by Hugo Burnand at Highgrove in July during the private 70th Birthday party of The Duchess of Cornwall. pic.twitter.com/yX2Ig92hui
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) December 18, 2017
Photos courtesy of Kensington Royal Twitter & Clarence House.
Eh it’s fine. My family hated christmassy cards so we always had something we liked doing as a family for the pictures *shrugs*
Season’s Greetings from Windsor & Cambridge Cerified Public Accountants
LOL
Honestly they should’ve used something kate shot of the kids. Those are typically cute photos that show the kids being…kids.
We really didn’t need Will and Kate tbh
LOL
@Mrs. WelenMelon: You nailed it! This photo would go so well with one of Liberty’s narratives…. Liberty, you out there?
It is SO boring! And there is no warmth in it. No holiday spirit, no joy, and little Charlotte looks totally isolated with no one even touching her
This card made me sad.
That’s the vibe I got from the moment I saw the photo. It’s something you would expect coming from an office. It looks formal and cold.
these cards aren’t for friends and family, it’s for their staff, charities, political connections etc.
Its supposed to be subdued and boring. I’d rather the palace be a backdrop but oh well.
Well that’s boring! I mean the Obama photos just always looked warm
But are they standing in a void somewhere? It’s just odd not to have a backdrop of something, grass, sky, house, walls, sofa, anything! It’s just so strange not to have something behind the whole family.
Susannah: they are standing on a studio backdrop eg https://savageuniversal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2-lemonadesamlesspaper.jpg
Yes, it’s weird that they would make this choice, but i suspect it’s got everything to do with their need for absolute privacy ie no need for public to peak at their private spaces.
LAK: Thanks for explaining what was going on. I thought maybe they were photoshopped out of a picture with a normal background and just put on the blank page of a Christmas card newsletter. Your explanation makes a lot more sense!
The attire is an improvement to waitie Van Helsing hat/coat look worn to Grenfell Memorial service – (sorry language barrier again!)
The photo lacks warmth – and a 6’2″ standing with mini middletons at the ‘knees’.
I agree with LAK. They are so freaked out that we might figure out something personal about them that we are left with this. A photo that looks like it would be in a 8×10 frame on a store shelf so you can see what your photo would look like in it.
bluhare – spot on!
The kids are cute, that’s all I got.
Her face looks like it was photoshopped in from a different pic in the photoshoot.
I concur, she doesn’t look quite right. On the other hand those children are adorable! Happy Hols to all!
She’s a pretty woman, I don’t know why the photoshopping.
Why have both parents standing? William is so much taller than the children, have him sitting and Kate standing. One kid on someone’s lap. This looks like a photo for a passport, awkward. I don’t mind the clothes, the blues are pretty, but the background is too sterile.
Very badly photoshopped, one of Kate’s arms is missing and her face shape has changed. Odd.
Oh dear – talk about an awkward photoshoot, they all look like they want to be elsewhere. I preferred the one with the dog.
Chuck and Cam at least look relaxed in theirs.
C&C often use a photo that has been taken during events through the year. That is why their cards are fun to see, because they aren’t super-posed.
I like Charles and Cam’s card. It has an elegant air, and they look happy.
I really like Prince Charles and Camilla’s card- it looks classy yet intimate at the same time. Perfect note to hit for a holiday themed card, IMO.
I do not like the Cambridges’ card, at all. It lacks any warmth or inkling of Christmas cheer.
That is a Barbie outfit suit. Except Barbie would have given it some pizzazz. I think Will is the only one looking at the camera. George is so endearingly sweet and awkward. Charlotte looks like she has everything in her life arranged just the way she likes it.
Btw, regarding the starkness/non-Christmas feel of the photo, remember the stories about Apt 1A being just tones of white and beige? I love these little glimpses we get of Kate’s taste. No shade. She’s obviously allowed to like what she wants.
I think it’s not Christmassy because it was actually taken months ago. One, her hair is
longer. Two, I think this is from George’s birthday photo shoot because his clothing looks the same as that photo.
But george birthday photo was from the family ‘vacation’ in Canada, while he was touring the heli.
@Royal Sparkle
Incorrect. His official birthday portrait was taken at Kensington Palace per the press release. He was wearing a blue striped shirt. I’m almost positive this ‘Christmas’ picture was taken then.
Thank you – I may have seen another – first ‘informal’ release…
Merry Christmas!
@Goats on the roof. Yeah, it was definitely taken earlier in the year. It just seems like one of those easy victories for good pr: a nice Christmas card and they could have used a picture from any of the dozens they probably have showing some warmth. It’s just a very Marriott conference room kind of choice.
“Charlotte looks like she has everything in her life arranged just the way she likes it.” Ah come one. Charlotte is just a small kid. I wouldn’t read too much into her expression- other than she does remind me of GreatGrandma Elisabeth
I was trying to say that she looks like a very confident happy kid and that’s a nice thing.
Holy photoshop! KM’s features are softened and blurred so much she looks like an oil painting.
I was just coming to say that! Wowza, some heavy handed photoshopping.
I thought the same exact thing. What in the world is going on with Kate’s face??
right? she is a very pretty woman, why Photoshop her face so much?
Yes ,the photo shopping is the first thing I noticed!Dumb question but um…Why is Kate not pregnant in this pic,like I suppose they took it way in advance,surely they didn’t edit out the baby bump?
This photo was taken months ago. The dress Charlotte has on is the same dress she wore for the Canadian trip (I think that was it). I’m sure she’s outgrown it by now.
I think she looks like a movie replica of herself. She’s not a bad looking woman, even with the lines; this is weird.
Agree but had she gone untouched she would be mocked for looking like her mother or old or tired etc.
Enough already
Disagree. There was very little mocking in her gf days. The criticism primarily came after she took heavy fillers. Botox. Steps to alter her appearance. And from engagement on there was extreme Photoshop. In person to photo was very different. As well as her 1st portrait.
It’s not that she’s a target for looking natural. It’s that she controls her image to look anything, but natural. And it’s been used in her favor to look like a tired mother by using less Photoshop. Letting some wrinkles show. Letting her roots show. Not smoothing her into oblivion. The narrative is controlled and she benefits from it.
“Holy photoshop” is the exact comment I was going to make. Jesus its bad! The rest of the photo is fine, I guess. The kids are cute.
William looks normal and Kate is so photoshopped she resembles a wax figure. I looked at the largest version available of this photo and the lighting on their faces is completely different. It’s almost like she’s been cut and pasted in. Totally botched job.
My thought exactly, she looks like a waxwork that almost but doesn’t quite capture the facial likeness of the live person.
The worst part is, you know she had to approve that. I feel bad for her if she’s that worried about her looks that this is the better choice.
Yup her face was photoshopped in from a different pic. They do that when someone blinks etc.
Also looks like they photoshopped in between Kate and Will to make it look like she has her arm around him or something. But, if she actually did when they took the pic her shoulders wouldn’t be so level. That’s why they like the plain backgrounds- easier to photoshop.
She could look closer to this with some normal makeup.
Kids are cute. Jeez those kids are among the most powerful people on the planet now.
Its a nice card. It may look a bit stiff but they have had some nice ones in the past so they haven’t always been this way.
I quite like the shades of blue in the outfits, but the pale backdrop just washed them out. Something deeper would’ve made everyone ‘pop’ more.
Agreed. At any rate, it’s clearly not getting sent to any of us, lol!
The kids are cute. Kate’s jacket is too small for her.
She looks like a recruitment consultant. Nice hair color.
Someone mentioned in an earlier post that Kate has an 1980s Dress for Success feel to her outfits. It’s not my taste but i find it strangely endearing.
lol
I agree with Kaiser (for once 😉 ), I’d have loved to see a more Christmassy photo too. This photo seems so random for a Christmas card plus it’s really boring-looking too. But Charlotte is really cute. George looks like Will has to hold on to him or he’d be long gone by now…
+1
Cold!! Especially with children it is so very easy to have a wonderful Merry Christmas card, for the people supporting you and family of five plus middletons Luxury Lifestyle. But this is I am a Prince – Willnot, with all taxpayers Duchy millions given to him – he prefer excluding or ignoring pleasing the people of GB.
The photo seems pulled from other pictures that have been photoshopped together. Even George and Charlotte in summer clothing and no hint of pregnancy on Kate. Makes the photo seem out of season and sterile.
It doesn’t look Christmas-y, more like an official portrait. Can’t wait to see what Harry and Meghan do on their first Xmas card.
+1 The kids dressed in summery clothes also doesn’t seem Christmas-y.
It was taken months ago. Another example of their backhanded privacy obsession. “Yes, we will allow you to see this one photo months-old of our children. You are not allowed to see what they look like now.”
William definitely has issues and needs a psychiatrist. Remember when he and Kate were first married and they refused to release Lupo’s name? Eventually, they did after an outcry from the public that the Queen isn’t even that secretive.
Why isn’t Lupo in the pic? He is a member of the family.
Seriously that’s it???? How boring!!! Not even a Christmas tree or Santa or some jingle bells.. boo hooo I’m not rich or royal and even I can do better than that
To be fair, if you look at previous Christmas Cards for the British Royal family or any royal family very few of them are Christmassy.
The Spanish Royal Family Christmas card for 2017
http://www.instyle.com/news/spanish-royal-family-2017-christmas-card
Charles and Camilla’s previous christmas cards
http://www.itv.com/news/2013-12-19/having-a-very-merry-christmas-charles-and-camilla-show-their-softer-side-in-this-years-card/
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/546983/Charles-Camilla-message-Harry-Christmas-Card
I like that Charles and Camilla use photos taken during the year, instead of posing for a formal one. That is what Harry did last year or the year before too, using a photo of himself and a veteran pilot.
The Spanish card is not good. They should have put the taller daughter in front of Felipe because Letizia’s head looks like it’s on top of her daughter. Beautiful family but bad positioning.
I wonder if they did that because the shorter daughter is also the older one (the heir). King and heir next to queen and younger sister.
It will be a blue Christmas without you…..maybe a bit strange, but I love Charlotte’s little blue shoes. Little dollie….
For me this is ALL about Charlotte’s shoes.
Her shoes are the best thing.
I don’t like the matchy-matchy…especially when the blues don’t match or aren’t even of the same hue (but darker/lighter shades). Which, I feel like Kate always does because she doesn’t accept profession help with her wardrobe.
I don’t really like the photo itself. The composition is so strange and formal. I also don’t like how Kate ALWAYS has to be showing off Big Blue. That just doesn’t seem like a natural pose to have her hand on her thigh like that. Yes, we know, you have Diana’s old ring! We get it!!
But, then again, the photo is beige and bland and sort of empty-feeling, just like Kate and William…so it fits, you know? They wouldn’t want us to get any more pictures than possible (like when the Obamas visited) of their beige interiors so we get the blank beige background. #Williamneedshisprivacy!
Personally, I love how Victoria and Dan do it. The ADORABLE videos of Estelle baking flatbread and receiving the christmas tree. Christmasy and less formal. Or, Harry’s photo from a few years ago of him with the veteran in the airplane? Awesome.
Speaking of Harry, do you all think we’ll get a joint card of him and Meghan this year? I’m hoping so!!
Agreed. I hate that suit she has on, and the phony pose to show off the ring. UGH. Oh yeah, and the beige shoes….burn them!
Princess Victoriaband Prince Daniel’s photo reflects Jul in Sweden, always a very big deal with very specific Scandinavian traditions. As Sweden continues to become more multicultural, this too shall be replaced with more staid Happy Holidays cards.
There is also a huge gap between the heads of the kids and that of William and Kate. When it shows up on twitter in the preview screen it cuts off the heads of the kids. At first I thought they didn’t include the kids. This is very poor composition. All the faces of the people in the photo should be visible at once and not separated like this. Chris Jackson is ostensibly a professional photographer and should know better. Since they are going for dull formal photos they should be using the classical concepts of balance and composition and they have not. And the colours are so bland. The background should have been brighter to off set the plain light blue. It’s obvious Chris listened to Kate on this and she shouldn’t have because she is really bad at photography.
And that’s ignoring how this is 6 months old and the kids probably look different. Oh well, no one will care once the Harry and Meghan engagement photo comes out.
Nic919, that’s what I’m thinking. This was taken 6+ months ago as part of the PR for the Germany and Poland tour.
+100
At first upload – carol mike middletons mini me were missing – which we know Willnot use as PR especially with Prince Henrys Sparkle in focus.
There have been more natural looking portraits taken at my local sears portrait studio lol. I love the fun and relaxed photos we get from the scandinavian royals, the swedes are the best a holiday cards.
Need Lupo
The interaction between George and Lupo are the only spark of life in so many of the Cambridge’s cards.
It seems weird to me that the Christmas card picture was taken before Kate became pregnant, or at least before she started to show … when I was pregnant near Christmas I wanted the baby bump showing in all my pics so my son could be part of things! Anyway, to each their own. The pic is nice and the kids are adorable in it.
This is the photo they release to everyone, though, not something to share with family and friends. And if there’s one thing we have learned about the Cambridges, it’s that they give away as little of their private life as possible (with some obvious sunbathing mistakes and papped-clapback exceptions). I’m guessing there are reams of family photos with her bump that will never see the light of day.
People keep expecting Harry and Meghan to do something different, but did anyone know they were flying to see each other every two weeks? People thought the media knew every meeting between Meghan and Kate, but the engagement interview and Christmas plans both suggest they saw each other a lot more than any gossip reporter dreamed possible. Meghan met the Spencer sisters and no one knew.
I’m telling you, half the “a Palace source” stories we spend days dissecting here are just fantasy filler when it comes to William and Harry. They give nothing away.
There was an IPSO enforced media embargo on reporting on them, so it’s not entirely true that they were lowkey and undiscovered. Especially considering the DM offices are about 5mins away from the gates of KP. And MM shops at wholefoods which shares it’s building with the DM offices.
Yeah that’s a good point! The personal ones are probably a lot warmer looking and recent. In any event, I like the pic just fine. The kids are so cute!
LAK, I didn’t say low key, I said private — and I could also have said secretive. The DM does a pretty good job with blinds and if they knew how frequently Harry and Meghan were meeting, they would have reported it. These households are locked down, not because they’re low key but because they are aggressively secretive — I stand by my assertion that we do not know as much as we think we do. Half of what gets repeated in every article on this site comes from a single “off the record” source, if you trace it back far enough. People have spun elaborate and extensive stories about their private lives on the basis of nothing.
I trust photos and twitter sightings when it comes to these people, and that’s about it. Everything else is pure speculation, and says more about the person doing the speculating than anyone in these households.
Last year they sent a photo in ski outfits that had more life, so there is no requirement for a formal photo.
And even if they go that route, it is a poorly composed photo both in colour and in terms of how the subjects have been placed. The gap between the adults and the kids is too much. Having two tall adults stand while their kids heads top out at their crotch is just really bad placement. It is not propoerly balanced and Chris Jackson isn’t showing any real ability here.
Josie: I take your point, but in this case, there is that IPSO media embargo. Specific to Harry and MM. The ruling as written ties the DM and other UK media’s hands even if these two did a conga through the DM’s offices. The onus was placed on the UK media not to create a media frenzy around these two.
Any and all reporting on them has been approved. all this went down around the time Harry sent out his letter to the media telling them to stop trolling his GF.
Twitter is another matter, and there have been some rumblings of sightings, but not reported in MSM just as people talk about sightings of the Cambridge-Middletons on twitter which isn’t reported in MSM.
They give nothing away and that’s a mistake. They should give out something. Still, they live off public funds so you get the spiel.
But I kind of understand why they don’t give much anymore re: my gosh this is so interesting, re: my grannnie’s chutney recipe etc. People at their level should do much more and give much more. But when not even the basics are mastered and their lives carefully projected, people will make assumptions or speculate or put 2 and 2 and make informed opinions. It depends.
More work, more info from the Palace equals less speculation and less criticism. But they choose to show some middlebums, oh excuseme, middlefingers to the public. That’s their game. Losses for long-term if that’s all they consider doing.
LAK, I take the IPSO ruling as evidence for my claim: they go to extreme lengths to protect their privacy. It seems to be the number-one rule for their social circle, and possibly their employees as well (some of the flat-footed PR could be explained by their priorizing absolute secrecy/control over actual ability to navigate the palaces/courts).
I don’t agree that the IPSO ruling means all the gossip pieces were approved. They weren’t (aren’t?) allowed to report truths without approval. But they did and continue to make up buckets of so-called insider gossip. Which since it’s imaginary, isn’t covered by the injunction the way that photos of MM at WF were (are?)
I certainly hope/expect the press to challenge that ruling now that MM is becoming an official member of the family.
Josie: i should have been clear that i was referring to the true gossip NOT the made up gossip. On that point we are on the same page.
It rubbed me the wrong way in the interview where he boasted about the fact that no one knew about them because they were so lowkey as if that was the only reason little information got out.
Being lowkey AND having an injunction in place is why this happened. Ditto in Botswana.
And any media that got out eg those pictures from Botswana or MM exiting a spa prior to Pippa’s wedding were absolutely approved.
Some people still know what they do but it just isn’t written about in the media in the UK or US. I don’t blame Harry for being secretive about his relationship because the paps and tabloids in the UK are in their own league as far as aggression and boundaries.
Media in other countries had some photos of Harry and Meghan, but unless you know the languages, you wouldn’t be able to find them. That is why you never heard the papers run serious stories about breakups. There were photos of them kissing and very affectionate with each other, and I guess others, but no one would dare print them because of fear they would be left in the cold in the future.
The constant sources saying it was serious were telling the truth. Some countries will never get exclusives, so they don’t care if they run the photos.
Wearing shorts in a Christmas picture? Here in Florida, it doesn’t seem like Thanksgiving or Christmas because everyone is wearing shorts and sundresses. This might be a better picture if they dressed right for the season and weren’t all in a blah, dull matching color. It does get cold at this time of year over in England, right?
It is still acceptable for upper class boys to wear short pants – no matter what the weather- until around age 8 or so in the U.K.
Her card is also a reflection on her tastes and personality. We see come through in her clothing and in other mediums. And I don’t think a glamoury photo would get good reviews anyway, they hardly work so seeing their posh life in a photo would not be such a bright idea. At least Charles and Cam work.
The picture does not have to be christmassy, but the card itself can be designed or decorated in a more season appropriate fashion. Not sure how the rest of it looks, since we are only seeing the pic.
But I really do not like the background. It looks very sterile. There must be gorgeous backdrops in a palace. albeit in the gardens or in one of the festive rooms.
On the one hand I’m surprised there’s nothing seasonal about the photo. It’s not like I expected the annual ugly sweater contest or anything but how about a wreath? A poinsettia? Also I think there is too much distance between the parents and the children. The tallest parent should be holding the shortest child while the shorter parent should be nearest to the tallest child. It would feel more compact, more intimate.
On the snark side why can’t Kate figure out that with improved makeup techniques she could look this airbrushed everyday. I watch a lot of makeup gurus on Youtube and it’s not as hard to master as you’d think. She looks movie star radiant here.
Will looks like a stick of anti-perspirant.
On the plus side everyone looks great. I love the outfits and the clean, Camelot Jack/Jackie vibe.
I agree. Poor composition in this photo.
Lol yes, the kids look like Will and Kate’s footwear!
Where’s Kate’s other arm? It looks like it’s been cut off.
came here to say the same thing – one of the first things i noticed in the photo lol
Yes, I noticed it was missing right away. To me it looks as if they have all put been photographed separately and photoshopped in rather than posing as a family group.
I thought it was just me that noticed the missing arm!
George’s pose it always, ‘On your mark, get set….’.
Blue is the color of Advent in the Anglican Church, so maybe she was going for liturgical accuracy?
That’s a normal family portrait from a few months ago (judging by Kate’s hair). They just re-use it now for the Christmas Card, maybe they didn’t want another photoshoot with the kids. George can’t stand still, his foot is in the air…
To us this old photo is new so it works when they publish it now
George and Charlotte = Mini Mike and Carole. They are too cute!
This looks like a catalog photo.
The kids look adorable…. but that’s where my positive feedback here ends. 1. Who thought that JC Penney Studio white background was a good idea? 2. William and Kate look like different people in this photo. It almost seems like they took this photo a few years ago when Kate’s hair was always a mess, and she was doing her makeup so that her whole face looked more slanted. The whole thing is odd. I kinda wonder if they were going to use a family photo from Pippa’s wedding and were advised not to so we ended up with this awkward thing?
A little red and green in the pic would,have been nice. The kids are adorable.
it looks like a group passport photo
You guys are so demanding. It’s just a Christmas card. I swear nothing makes you guys happy!
+1
Even the sugars on other sites don’t like this photo!
Their position in the BRF hierarchy – possibly future King and Queen Consort demands certain standards of quality as for image and actions. Consider the fact that they live off public money because of William’s privileges by virtue of birth in the BRF and you get the whole picture.
Releasing as little as a good quality Christmas picture and show a bit of honesty towards the people of the UK, NI and the Realms is the least they could do. This bad picture is a pretty good example that encompasses their lack of respect towards the public. Epic photoshop failure, see other criticism regarding technical aspects of the fine art of taking good quality pictures re: BRF standards, compare it with other Christmas pictures of the BRF. Petulance and lack of respect in a nutshell. Also considering that William and Kate keep a tight leash on their image. Their access to the best of everything. A professional photograph would take tens of pictures at least. No one is “demanding”. Their position and use of unlimited resources requires the highest of standards. And we get this picture?
I’ve been really impressed by Charles and Camilla’s cards since they’ve gotten married. I know she’s the other woman and always will be to some people but their cards and photos always look really genuine. And I happened to catch an off the cuff interview with her coming out of some event (not the Meghan markle one, it was earlier than that) and she just seems confident and sassy and I kind of love her.
I know, there’s just something warm about her, she does seem really genuine. I’ve always kind of associated Camilla with my Mum, don’t know why, maybe it’s the hairstyle but I think that’s why I like her, she reminds me of home. They do seem really in love don’t they!
I absolutely have come to adore Camilla. I would love to drink with her!
A boozy evening Cams would be the highlight of my life.
Co-sign. A drink with Camilla sounds fun. Her relationship with Charles has passed the test of time. She seems to be a solid character with a good sense of humour.
The pic is ok except for the epic photoshop of Kate’s face and right arm. And why use a picture from earlier this year? I was curious to see how the kids have grown.
I agree with Soulspa. A more recent picture would have been nice with a little more colour. I find this looks really bland.
Bet she didn’t want to send out a pregnancy photo. Her face becomes fuller with the extra weight and that is NOT acceptable to one so vain for being skinny.
Who is checking for these people to the point where they need to release Christmas cards???!!! This whole institution needs to burn.. I hate all of them except for the Queen.
I’m sure there are many people, who’d probably take offence if there weren’t any.
How can you make a Holiday card photo boring? They live in a beautiful palace with magnificent grounds & they give us Olin Mills?
Olin Mills would never have let a badly composed photo like that be sent out.
Olin Mills would at least have used a mottled dark blue/green background instead of a white sheet.
Ok the more i look at this the more its been photoshopped to fk. If you look at his shoulder where her arm should be it looks like his torso/shoulder has been stretched to appear closer to her and that her missing arm is behind him. It doesn’t look natural, maybe its the angle that he was standing but either way it screams bad photoshopped or awkward posing.
Yawn. Their picture from last year (or the year before, the one on the lawn) was so much better. That suit on Kate is basically an 80s power suit, and the stripes on George’s shirt don’t photograph that well. And the photoshopping is pretty obvious.
This is a photo where they all look perfectly OK, smiling and nicely dressed, but the totally sterile environment gives absolutely no hint of what they are like, OR what they like as people. Boring, sterile, featureless. Very symbolic of their relationship with the outside world, where they strive to release only a very carefully edited minimalist version of their activities.
Nice pic showing zilch personality.
Charlotte is such a cutie. Thats all ive got to say.
Felipe and Letizia’s card this year is more formal that usual, but at least it was taken outside with a Palace as backdrop.
It isn’t their Christmas card, but the Lux royals released a series of photos of the Chateau de Berg decorated for Christmas. Yes, I know, why do they get to live in a Palace and all that, but the photos are lovely. They are on the official website Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg.
Boring boring boring.
Is that so different from other royal families’ cards?
I’ve seen the one released for Spain and honestly, that’s pretty much the same thing.
Two adults, Felipe and Letizia, stiffly standing next to each other, with their two children standing in front of them, their outfits coordinated.
Do people expect the typical christmassy shots for cards not even meant for family but for staff?
The Spanish photo has a Palace in the background instead of looking like the SEARS ad reference above. It also appears to be more recent, instead of this photo which appears to have been taken as part of the trip to Poland and Germany back in July. They are wearing outfits they wore during that tour.
So that’s the background or lackthereof tha bothers people. Ok.
A palace behind them would really please all the critics? Staff, who will receive the card, are really that excited about a castle showing?
And Charles and Camilla ‘s pictures were not recent , also taken for another event but it doesn’t seem to be a big deal.
I guess I’m the type of person pleased if sent one, who will read it and forget it minutes later, probably won’t start an investigation about the period the shot was taken , so the level of dissection escapes me.
The background is ridiculous, but Sweden has also released portraits on white backgrounds with everyone in matchy blue as well. Those weren’t as criticised because the family interacted in the pictures, the kids looked natural, they were recent photos not months old, etc.
This is clearly a photo from months ago, likely as part of the PR from the Germany/Poland tour. It should have been releasde then if it was going to be released.
To me it is just another way of yanking chains and being obsessive. No recent shots of the kids allowed, must only be months old to be allowed to be seen by the plebs.
A photo can be formal and still work. This one is bland, badly composed and photoshopped to death.
I love it, I think they all look great! Don’t they usually just pick their favorite picture of the year for the card anyway? I don’t think it has to be Christmas-y. My gripe as always is with William and rolling my eyes as to how he never seems to reach for Kate. It wouldn’t kill him to put his arm around her or hold her hand.
Whether we like William or not, he has managed to do what Diana, Charles, the palace,etc. could never do – keeping the tightest lid ever on press pictures. And this can cause less interest in his family, which I think doesn’t bother William one bit. And I think in some ways, he has Kate tied up in knotswith his hatred of the press. She follows his lead. It’s a shame because the Christmas card could be so warm and a bit more personal.
The photoshop on Kate is so bad that I wouldn’t recognize that it’s her, except she’s with Prince William and their children. He should never be used again for doing such a poor job.
The dress is pretty on her, and the kids look adorable. I just love Princess Charlotte.
I hope Kate goes back to long hair at some point. I like her hair long, unlike many on here, but I also like some of the styles she’s worn with her shorter cut.
It’s Chris Jackson and he is married to one of the Cambridge staff members, so there will be no repercussions for this bad photo. To be fair he did a close up photo of George during this same session which was much better.
To be honest I am quite surprised to see this picture as a product of a professional photographer. I can’t understand either how such a bad picture was used for official purposes. Sigh. So many questions.
Boring, but the kids are cute.
Oh come on, no pregnancy belly, no background of the palace, the wiglet?? This makes me sad. Where is the fun like when they did heir first photos that they took themselves??
In contrast, CP Victoria of Sweden and her family have sent out a set of casual Christmas photos around the tree at home, plus video of them decorating a little tree at the kids playhouse.
Adorable video!! https://youtu.be/RWRyxRK6LQE
This is how it should be done, IMO.
The Swedish royals sent out a lovely card and posted both card and a video for the public to see. It’s lovely.
P.S. Someone in Twitter who saw William ,Kate , said Kate is not even pretending to be happy around William right now. Said pregnancy may be a factor in the mister able mood they saw between them, in public.
Do you have a link to the twitter sighting Mika?
They’re a lovely family, but they should do a real Christmas card. Even Albert and Charlene’s card shows a Christmas tree and relaxed family.
I understand keeping royal traditions, but some traditions need updates!
The card is a reflection of them… bland and boring.
Boring but expected at this point. Compare this one to the one from Victoria in Sweden.
Why is George in shorts in the winter?!
The photo was taken 6 months ago. Also, it’s an upper class thing to put boys in shorts.
I think this is one of the classier Christmas family cards I’ve seen. They’re royal — I wouldn’t expect them to wear ugly Christmas sweaters or anything.
They’re British upper-class – I don’t expect them to look like the Kardashians either.
I would assume the photographer creates how the photo is supposed to look. If the background is boring, I’d blame that on the photographer.
You are charitable. This does not look upper class except for the baby dumpling lovebugs Charlotte and George. I love them. But they look like Bob and Trish’s advertisement for their real estate agency in Des Moines.
Nothing about the photograph screams middle-class. It’s very plain and they are all well-dressed in expensive clothes.
Eh Not really. Certainly not relatable and certainly not royal. They don’t seem to know how they want to sell themselves and they look like any upper middle-class couple in a bland safe stock photo. The problem with that is that they aren’t.
If they were no one would criticize.
Other cards over the years: http://www.womansworld.com/posts/royal-family-christmas-cards-119588/photos/1987-royal-family-christmas-card-210252#photo-anchor
“Generic” and “stock” are words to descibe this photograph if we had no context of the subjects or occassion. It could be an easter card. Thank you card. Catholic confirmation invite.
The heavy photoshop, looks like a magazine of 1990’s Cindy Crawford.
Kate’s face didn’t even look that sculpted and line free in her mid twenties. It’s a plastic looking person in that picture.
P.S. An Australia magazine recently had a story that Kate had not one but three nose alterations since meeting William. I wonder if she was so concerned about not looking pregnant or being slim in her photo that she chose this one.
To me the photo looks very photo-shopped in too many ways to list, and unnecessary ways at that, but they do look like a very happy family.
My first thought – nice Hanukkah card. And, Charlotte looks just like a little version of the Queen. If their next child is blonde and looks like Diana, I’m going to feel very sorry for Charlotte. The press will go into full effect of the next Diana.
charlotte resembles the queen as an old lady, but she doesn’t resemble the queen in photos of her as a toddler. she looks more like carole middleton.
Chanukah for me too since it is so much blue and white.
Dr. Barry and Rachel Shulman’s family photo for their annual holiday card they send to his clients. Not too Jewish but you know *wink wink*.
I don’t understand why they (she?) felt there was a need to photoshop her face.
I don’t ooh and ahh over all babies or small children but I always get a kick out of Charlotte. She is cute but in a real kid way….not like some China doll.
I too see the photoshopping and I don’t get it. Kate is an attractive woman. And I’ve seen sites that allude to minor plastic surgery here and there….again I don’t get it. The face she had at University was very pretty and natural. I’m glad this obsession with conventional “perfection” wasn’t as intense when Diana was princess, I remember people snarking about her nose, but to me it made her look so classical.
I remember thinking all the time how Diana’s short hair,nose,her tallness-all those things combined made her the classic yet somehow unusual great beauty that she was.
She is attractive, but this makes me sad because it signals she doesn’t think so. 🙁 Kate let me at you and make you over. Free the beauty Kate!!!
I think they look great, but photo background and composition are bland. I prefer Charles and Camilla’s photo. I blame the bad Photoshop of Kate on the photoshopper. Actually I never got the criticism of Kate’s face, weight and torso. I think she looks fine. U can pile on her and William on their work ethic and choice of clothes, there’s enough material.
Kate loves her peplums.
That’s all I have on a Monday.
Christmas sweaters would have been so good! This photo isnt cristmassy at all.
Sorry to rain on any MAGA parade or whatever, but blue and white are chanukah colors.
For me, it’s not that the picture isn’t “Christmassy”, it’s just so boring and fake-looking. I do like that pictures from other events throughout the year are used for the Christmas cards because it showcases personalities and gives a little glimpse into their interests. This one looks like it was Photo-shopped from various other pictures and set against a plain background. Even a tree or some wallpaper would have been better!
What strikes me is that this is a family with access to beautiful settings and professional staff but this is the “gift” they chose to share. It pretty clearly says – we don’t want to give you this picture but we have to”. Rather than listen to a photographer who surely might have said — how about everyone on the loveseat cuddled up, instead of children hanging off the shins of tall people. Or Kate, who always looks more comfortable in her sporty attire ordaining the pics be in country casual and outside at Anmer having fun. No, lets use the photographer we have for George’s birthday take a quick mug shot pose in front of a white sheet. Why bother, Kate.
+1000. “Why bother, Kate?” is my usual thought when seeing how she seems half-a** almost everything she does. Both W&K (and to a lesser extent, H) seem to have a constant attitude of “we don’t want to do this, but we have to. So be happy with what you get peasants!”
At first glance, I honestly thought that home girl looked like Joanna Gaines. D:
I like it. It’s serviceable. Her outfit is cute, and the kiddos are cute, and William is William. Obviously they didn’t take it very recently, but why that matters is beyond me.
Maybe they chose the picture for the expressions on the kids’ faces rather than for how the adults look. The kids do look cute, no matter how they’re dressed.
Honestly, it would never have struck me that this is a bad photo. But maybe my impression has been influenced by how the Kardashians take their Christmas cards. I suppose any picture could be better, but I also don’t think this photo is that bad either.
I don’t mind it one bit, it will look very elegant if they use a creamy white card with the text in silver or gold.
All shades of blue! I think they left the background white so you and I could photoshop anything we want – a Xmas tree, a temple, Rudolph, whatever!
To me, this is another middle finger from W&K. When was the last time we saw the children? This photo is at least 6 months old, George could have grown a foot(!) since then, Charlotte could look completely different, why are we not allowed to see a recent picture?
It’s so annoying, especially for us in the UK. Foreign countries have seen more of the kids than we have, and we can’t even get an up to date photo? We’re only going to be paying to keep them secure and in luxury forever, that’s all. I’m not saying parade the kids down every village main street at the weekends but at least give us a recent photo. You take our money W&K – you don’t have to so honour your side and give us something back. An old pic from your trip to Poland? This is really quite insulting.
+1000
That really is a dreadful photo…STANDING with the children directly in front of them…no sense of family…just four humans dressed in everyday apparel…Nothing remotely holiday festive what so ever. I give it a -2 out of a possible 10.
Look at the amount of comments on this article. It has really stirred the pot…on these royals and what they consider acceptable…to their audience. Oh well…The Queen has better taste in clothing…at least she’s matchy matchy…but I’m betting she will wear Christmas colors for her photo this Christmas!
Meh, not super-Christmasy. But still a very nice picture.
They’ are suppose to be the “young royals” they’re Christmas photo can be pop and still look professional.
Doubt Harry and Meghan will do the Christmas card thing since Harry is even further down the line.
bland with no warmth – portrays them perfectly. ud think theyd want to up their game with Harry and Meghan about to eclipse them on every level.
if that shot was picked as the best picture to send out -yikes- because that picture seriously sucks.
Actually the more I look at this photograph the more I question their judgement , and the judgement of their team. It’s bland and badly composed with 2 quite tall people and 2wee ones in front. Why didnt the photogropher group them together on a couch or something so the faces were closer together? Very very strange.
It looks like an advert for a business trying to attract young upcoming families -like a banking advert or maybe an advertisement for a school or family health or something….
Don’t they ever look at the wonderfully warm and more natural pics put out by the Scandinavian and Spanish royals, even this year’s pic from Monaco was warm and happy looking.
Businesses make better pictures because good ads means more revenue. WK have access to unearned unlimited funds thus petulance and not giving back. No danger for them. They are safe and sound where they are.
I wonder how many people will enlarge it and place it on card board then cut it out, strange seems to be fashion thing at the moment, famous people card board cut outs.
I think it’s adorable. Much better than wearing all white on a beach IMHO.