Prince William and Kate Middleton – now known as the Prince and Princess of Wales – are debuting a brand new picture of their adorable family for their 2022 Royal Christmas card. Like many other families across the world, they send out an annual family photo to get in the holiday spirit – it’s a popular tradition!
For the fifth year in a row, the family decided to go with a more casual and relaxed look – this one taking place outside their residence in Norfolk, England. The family – which includes Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4 – appeared to be going for a stroll as they held hands with big smiles.
The photograph was shot by Matt Porteous – an award-winning Royal Family photographer – earlier in the year. Both William and Kate opted to wear blue jeans, with Kate wearing a white button-down shirt and William wearing a blue button-down shirt. Their children opted for shorts and short-sleeved shirts.
This year’s holiday season has been much different than in years past, considering it’s the first holiday season without Prince William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty passed away ‘peacefully’ on September 8, 2022 at her Balmoral Castle in Scotland – her summer residence.
As a result of her death, William’s father – King Charles III – took the British throne, marking the first time in 70 years that someone not named Queen Elizabeth II sat on the throne. It’s a new era for Buckingham Palace, it’s a new era for the Royal Family, and it’s a new era for the entirety of the United Kingdom.
This will also be the first Christmas that William and Kate are spending as Prince and Princess of Wales – the titles they gained when Charles became King and Camila became Queen Consort. Princess of Wales was also the title Princess Diana – William’s mother – had before passing away on August 31, 1997.
In previous years, the Royal Family would spend the Christmas holiday at Sandringham House – the former residence of Queen Elizabeth II. With her now gone, it is unclear where the Family will spend this year’s holiday – or if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be present amid their ongoing feud.
Recent History of the Annual Royal Christmas Card
Over the past five years, William and Kate have opted for a more casual look – opposed to their 2017 Royal Christmas card, which was taken in formal clothing at Kensington Palace. The only difference between this year’s photo and the previous four is that the family is walking, instead of sitting down.
Their 2021 Royal Christmas card was taken while on a private trip to Jordan – they were sitting down on some unconventional ‘chairs’ and were in a rocky setting. In 2020, the family was sitting on haystacks wearing pants and sweaters. Looking back at their past photos, it’s crazy how much they’ve all grown!
The family’s 2019 Royal Christmas card was their most candid one yet. They posed in a vintage motorcycle – William was in the driver’s seat with Louis, while George and Charlotte were in the sidecar. While there wasn’t room for Kate on the motorcycle, she was standing to the side holding the handlebar.
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And finally, their 2018 card was taken in a fall-colored setting with leaves changing color in the background. William and Kate were leaning up against a tree stump as their children climbed around them. It was the first Royal Christmas card that featured a third child – Louis was born earlier that year.