Yay! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released their official Christmas card, which is a photo of the whole family. And the photo wasn’t even taken by Michael Middleton, Carole Middleton, Pippa Middleton or Mario Testino! The photo was taken back in October by Chris Jelf. Jelf posed the Cambridge family on the grounds of Kensington Palace. The only thing that annoys me is that the Cambridges didn’t include poor Lupo in the family portrait. What, is Lupo not a part of the family?!!
Anyway, this is a great family photo, and this should serve as an example to both Will and Kate for which family photos they should release. Some of their previous choices have not been the best. I feel like Kate chose this one because she, George and Charlotte are looking at the camera while William seems to be looking proudly at… George? Is that where his eyes are? The only thing that bugs me is that it looks like Charlotte is magically perched on her mom’s knee with no one holding on to her (in truth, I’m sure Kate’s left hand is holding on to Charlotte, but we just can’t see it).
Meanwhile, the Cambridges also announced today that Prince George will be headed to nursery school early next year. The official statement: “Prince George will begin to attend the Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk before the end of January.” A spokesperson for the nursery said: “We are looking forward to welcoming George to our nursery where he will get the same special experience as all of our children.” So… he’ll be going to nursery school in Norfolk, not London. I feel like that detail is going to be a big deal in the months to come. I also think that there are going to be a lot of toddlers in Norfolk who are about to get punched by George’s baby fists of doom.
Prince George will begin to attend the Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk before the end of January https://t.co/3U5Prfcc9p
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 18, 2015
And in case you’re wondering, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also released their Christmas card image. It’s a really nice photo of the two of them!
Photos courtesy of Instagram, Kensington Palace, WENN.
It’s a really cute pic. Charlotte looks like a little doll!
I love that Charlotte has one shoe on the ground! Our daughters were born a week apart, and our recent visit to Santa yielded a photo where she only had one shoe on, and people won’t stop giving me crap for it. I’m not stopping a mildly successful photoshoot with a baby and a toddler to fix a shoe though! No way! If there are smiles, keep it rolling!
I have a photo like that of my now 13 year old son when he was a toddler and I treasure it! He went through a phase where he was always pulling his socks and shoes off.
They are so stinkin adorable!! I can’t!!l Love this family.
You “can’t”? You can’t what?
She can’t even!!!
Prince Charles and Camilla look amazing on their card. Best photo yet of them imo.
The Cambridge photo is nice too.
Agreed! They all look happy.
Agree…it’s a lovely photo of them. Charles looks better than Wiliam :/
And kids are adorable!!
Wow, yes.
That is a great pic of Charles and Camilla…they look truly in love and like soul mates.
Agreed. I CANNOT STAND Camilla, but even I have to admit that is a gorgeous photo.
(At least Charles stopped sleeping around…)
Those children are really cute. It’s hard to get a family picture where everyone looks good. I told a friend of mine that I was amazed at how beautiful everyone looked in their Christmas card photo, and he said that if I looked carefully, I would see part of an extra hand from the photoshop.
And, I say grudgingly, that’s a nice picture of Charles and Camilla. 🎄
*grits teeth*
George is a pretty toddler. I like chubby-cheeked kids.
(That’s the best I can do. Even at Christmas).
LOL!
Yeah, I nearly choked on mine, too. Merry Christmas!
It’s a Christmas miracle! Although I like Sixer Scrooge. 🙂
LOL SIXER:)
Yes I’m a big George fan too. He is always animated and simply adorable. More George pics !
PS I think Wills is looking at George to make sure he doesn’t make a break for it and kick the camera person!
I can wholeheartedly wish you guys a Merry Christmas!
Cute kids.
But WHY do they have to dress George in such an old-fashioned manner all the time?
Looks fine to me. Just a kid in kiddie clothing.
It’s kids clothing, but the really niche borderline costumey kind that isn’t sold in regular stores, whether they’re pricey and posh or not. If you dress your kid like this, you’ve really gone out of your way to do so.
It’s probably expected of them, but I read that they do it so that people will be less likely to recognise him when he’s in his regular everyday clothes.
I kind of love it. It’s so English.
I like it too.
Where do you live? Every Christmas card I’ve gotten with a baby in it had the baby dressed in beautiful, traditional, hand stitched clothes. Smocking and appliqué and all the rest. Why does someone make this comment every time they post a picture? Do you really prefer polyester football jerseys or camouflage for babies and toddlers? Do you not know anyone who dresses their child like that? Everyone I know does.
I don’t get this particular criticism either. If you’re sending out a picture to family, friends, and, in their case, the public, it seems unlikely you’d want to send out the card with your kids looking like Honey Boo Boo.
I agree wholeheartedly! George is wearing shorts and what appears to be a Fair-Isle sweater and a shirt. And Charlotte is wearing a sweater and a print dress. George is not dressed like little lord Fauntleroy (here is LLF for those who don’t know the allusion: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birch_Little_Lord_Fauntleroy_add_Titre.png )
I know some people go on about George wearing shorts – what is the big deal? I wore skirts with bare legs and either knee socks or anklets right through high school – even in the winter! This looks like it was taken on a pleasant October day.
They look nice and not fashion forward (and children do not need to be fashion forward!) I notice that at the Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace you could see little Isla Phillips (daughter of William’s cousin Peter Phillips) was dressed in a tartan dress with smocking and a velvet collar – and she looked adorable. That is little kid dress-up and there is nothing wrong with it!
Well I’ve never seen kids wearing this kind of clothes but it must because I’m living in France. IMO it’s very Brit
I had broderie anglaise romper suits that I squished the Sixlets into for keepsie photos. And I’m the least interested in dress-up that it’s possible to be. So I guess it is pretty British?
Well I live in England and I rarely see little boys wearing smock tops and round collars- it look more Euro-toff than English.
Euro-toff! I’m stealing that!
no Euro-toff. I don`t know any child with this kind of clothes in Germany.
No collars at all normally, and to dress up a sweater without pictures on it or something like a man shirt. But no round collar. Long trousers. Never shorts in Winter, with these high socks. It´s for me typical british.
Thank you! I was going to ask if this is the way people dress over there. Because to me, the clothes they dress in do not look like it is from this decade. In other words, looks old fashioned to me.
I like it. It’s cute.
It reminds me of Christopher Robin….. Which I consider very cute!
why does William look like he’s smelling a fart in every picture I see oh him?
Maybe Charlotte has a dirty diaper.
Besides, he got the worst possible combination of genes from both his parents, so it’s kind of just what his face does.
Thank you! I was reading all the positive responses to the pic and wondering what pic I was looking at?
Mom and kids look great, Will looks bad. I covered him up and the whole photo improved SO much.
Maybe Kate chose it?! Ha.
I think the Charles & Cam pic is adorable. A+
It’s so weird to me that William looks separate from the unit of Kate + kids. Like he was photoshopped in.
Why do all these photography experts never mind the arrangements of their subjects?
I think the family portrait looks wonderful. The toy train is a nice touch, too. I also thought that Will looks like he was photo shopped in. Kate and the children form a tight triangle while he is perched with hands emptily dangling. He should have been been holding Lupo. I guess it would have been too much to snuggle close to Kate and put his arm around her. And Charles and Camilla give off a cuddly love vibe that’s special to see. One of the best photos of these two.
LAK, that was my first observation. Why is Kate holding and cuddling the kiddos with Wills squatting off the side like an afterthought? Usually, when you have two kids, each parent is holding one. Weird.
The kiddos are cute and I have to admit. Chaz and Cams look great in their photo too.
C&C do look the picture of happiness. . . it’s a lovely photo of them.
William DOES look separate. Perhaps he IS separate and the photo didn’t strike anyone as strange. . .
Those kids are pure Middleton.
My first thought too — that Kate and the kids look like a happy unit and then there’s William off to the side looking in a different direction. The body language tells a lot!
I think he looks fine. George looks in motion and I expect Dad was trying to entice him back with the train. On his way to it, the photographer got his attention and ‘click’. It’s a wrap!
I can’t recall a REALLY good looking guy turning into such unattractive dork in a relatively short time. What happened to him?
Maybe a sorcerer put a spell on him.
His personality started showing.
Definitely a spell.
Yeah it’s pretty bad.. Despite all his money I’m shocked he could get any hair treatments! Also, he looked better with a beard, so you’d think he would bring that bad. *sigh*
Both nice photos. That George is too cute.
Very nice.
The background setting is bee-yoo-tiful.
God I love autumn!
When they go out into the garden outside the palace, are they among the people in the park? it doesn’t look like anyone is around and yet it didn’t seem like the gardens were private.
That garden is their own private garden outside their apartment. A garden within the palace. You can tell by the white trellis in the background.
There is an interior design blog that has a section on royal palaces that has several pictures of their apartment + garden when it was occupied by Margaret. That trellis part was installed by Margaret.
The interior wall also separates them from rest of the garden of that section of the palace and beyond that is Hyde Park which is a public park.
LAK – Link please?
LAK
Are you talking about Cotedetexas site? Because I LOVE that site! I get lost there for hours.
I actually thought background was surprisingly meh for royal grounds and poorly composed to boot.
A Montessori school….interesting. Those seem to be hot right now. The one near me has a crazy wait list.
My kid is in Montessori and she is almost two. It is working out great for her so far. I think the model is strongest in those pre-k and early elementary age.
My nephew went as a toddler and enjoyed it very much. They teach a lot of social skills and he was always very polite as a child. Not that I’m biased or anything.
I went to a Montessori school and loved it (although in those days they were still trying to force left-handed kids to write with their right hand!). I visited one for my own kids and was impressed by how quietly and diligently the kids were working, totally focused on hands-on activities. A lovely respite from the over scheduled, over caffeinated, high tech world of their parents.
I am beyond amused at the thought that George will have to learn to put the previous toy back on the shelf before choosing a new toy. I am sure it will be very good for him, but I pity the other children.
What?! People still do that?
I’m a lefty and the idea of kids being forced to write with their non-dominate hand saddens me. Left-handedness is wired in the brain!
Now? It has been “hot” since Maria founded it. It is a fantastic system, my kid went since three and then in grade 1 transitioned to a school that continued with Montessori principles slowly transitioning into regular curriculum from grade 1 through 3. It is fantastic.
Just ensure it is an accredited Montessori – anyone can slap the name on a school but only partially follow the principles/use the materials, unless they are accredited.
True. My nephew is 32 now. Lol
Gads, I went to Montessori school in the 60’s (I am older than dirt). They have always been ‘hot’.
I can just picture all the future Ma Middleton wannabe social climbing mothers trying to get their same-age-as-Georgie toddler into that Montessori school!
What a cute card! Love that he caught George in “action” mode. I give them a pass for excluding Lupo- imagine getting George in frame was challenge enough!
Where’s Lupo?
Behind the scenes (with Diana).
There was a photo on the DM of Marshmallow man and Donna Air with her standing outside a pub smoking. She is holding a leash to a black spaniel that looks like Lupo but don’t the Middletons have several black spaniels? I thought it was possibly Lupo because James stated in an interview that he puppy sits for them a lot.
I just thought it interesting they didn’t choose the King Charles Spaniel breed.
BTW- has anyone ever seen Lupo in Mustique? Tanna would know the answer to that one. I’ll try to find out.
With kids that age, I’d leave the dog out of the photo too. You only get a finite amount of time before they get antsy or melt down, and it’s hard enough to get the baby and the toddler to look a at the camera at the same time. Add the dog into the mix? It’s just too much.
Is William unable to look at a camera head on?
Charlotte lost her shoe! They are adorable.
Omg-missed that completely! Love it! That baby is SO sweet.
Serious question. Is Charlotte photoshopped in there?
Her face has been lightened by Photoshop. Maybe more than that has been done.
Actually, I just zoomed in and she might be.
It’s impossible to get good pics of kids in a group. That I think there’s some photoshop makes this even funnier to me because WHY did they leave Will looking like that?
That’s what I wonder. Why edit the kids and not William? I miss Lupo, too. If William’s not holding anything or anyone, why not bring in the dog?
I thought so, too. There’s this weird halo around her and she looks like she’s floating above Kate’s knee.
Can’t blame them if she is, tbh. Having a baby look that cute and smiley in a family photo that was likely taken several times is not easy.
If George and Charlotte are anything like my nieces and nephews-this was on of the few shots were both kids were looking at the camera. Over half their pictures at least one kid is off doing something or looking at a leaf.
They all look adorable.
As darling as Lupo is, he would take attention away from the children. This is all about the family. I’m sure he’ll be fine and won’t feel left out. It’s an adorable photo.
Charlotte has on the same outfit as the solo picture of her that they released. For the power shopper that Kate is, it kinda bothers me when she repeats outfits. What is she saving that stuff for?!
The Kate pictures were probably snapped on the same day as this professional one.
The Cambridges seem to want to control the images and not providing “updated” photos is their M.O.
They did the same with George, released a “new” photo months ago, of him but the pic was old from back at the christening.
I was thinking the reason for this could be that both photos were taken at the same time. That way Kate could have the advice of a professional photographer while being the person credited for taking the portrait of Charlotte.
She gets a lot of bad press about using tax dollars to go shopping, so she repeats chothes a lot to keep tbe hounds at bay.
That was the first thing I noticed, the repeat on Charlotte’s clothes. Well, that and William’s unfortunate resemblance to a woodchuck.
And William repeating the same blue cashmere sweater we’ve seen a thousand times. Maybe he has a drawer full of the same sweaters like Kate has the closet full of the same blue dresses.
Size Does Matter:
He’s not a woodchuck (“how much wood could a ….) he’s Wallace! (Wallace and Gromit). Therefore, he’s not “Big Willy” he’s “Big Wally.” 😉
If that is the same sweater, I would like to know his valet’s moth management strategy (I am not used to pests like this, they are the devil).
If we are to believe the PR,
– The photo of Charlotte on the chair was taken by Kate in early November at Amner Hall.
– The photo above of the family was taken by photographer Chris Jelf in late October at Kensington Palace.
So we are to believe that very clothes-conscious Kate dressed Charlotte in the same exact outfit (sweater, dress, leggings) on two different photo-taking occasions in two different months at two different locations. Who knows? It could be…
In the photo of Charlotte on the chair her sweater seems shorter on her arms than in this picture. I can see that happening in a month.
@ justme
It’s not a month. It’s the short time between late October and early November.
@anne_000 — babies can and do have incredible growth spurts. I remember having a nice little sweater knit by a friend for my daughter. She wore it one Sunday to church and it looked fine. The very next week the friend was coming to visit and I realized that although my daughter could still wear it, it was getting too short!
I think they were both taken by a professional photographer, and the lie is that Kate, the great photographer, took the original photo of Charlotte. Because it makes no sense for them to dress her in the exact same clothes, weeks later, for an official photo for their Christmas card. You know she has other clothes.
That said…it’s a nice pic, even though, William seems distance from the kids (not emotionally, but placement wise).
@ justme
The point of my post was that it was odd how they had taken two photos of Charlotte in different months at different locations for different occasions, yet they had her dress up in the same exact sweater, dress, and leggings.
@ The Original Mia
I agree that it’s more than likely that both photos were taken on the same day, regardless of what their PR stated.
That said, if their PR lied about the dates, why? It’s such a small thing to lie about that it makes me wonder if other details they’ve mentioned regarding the photos are true or not.
@anne_000 –
Why did their PR lie? That’s only if they did lie – which there is no proof that they did. I just looked again at the “chair pictures” which were apparently taken at Anmer in November. The sleeves of the cardigan are shorter than they are in this picture which would indicate growth — which can happen in a short time with a baby.
And yes I am aware of your point. My point was that there are differences in the baby herself which would be consistent with even a few weeks between pictures.
Maybe Kate just likes this particular outfit?
@ justme
Have you ever seen George in the same outfit twice, especially in a posed photo? Even in the numerous photos taken by her father, herself, a staff member, professional photographers, and members of the public?
It’s just odd to me that if both these photos of Charlotte were taken on different occasions, different months, and different locations, they’d have her in the same exact outfit – same sweater, same dress, and same leggings.
@anne_000
I don’t get it – so many plots and conspiracies whenever a picture of these kids appears. (See all the comments about photo shopping.) The photographer was interviewed and spoke of taking these pictures, which he enjoyed doing. Why would they pretend that Kate took the other picture (at a different location) if she did not? I remember when the picture came out many people widely criticized it because it was not professional enough, but now it is too professional I guess. I tend to believe what is said when there is no good reason not to. But that is me.
We can agree to disagree.
@ Justme
I don’t think I’ve yet said that I believe only one photographer did both photo sessions.
My point has been about the dates.
There’s only so many times I can keep saying the same thing before realizing that my responses are not being read.
@ Justme
Look, there are several other people here who think both sets of photos were taken on the same day, based on Charlotte being in the exact same outfit, even though they don’t bring up the fact that W&K’s PR have said that they were taken in different months/locations/occasions.
The only difference between my post and theirs is that I brought up the discrepancy of what W&K’s PR team said about the dates, even though it can be easily guessed that both sets of photos were taken on the same day.
Is it that I pointed out W&K”s discrepancy that is irksome?
Remember the photos of George on the steps? It was said right away on blogs everywhere Kate tookk those shots. It’s later stated Harry’s hot ELF (aka LAK’s future beau) did so. Only this was not passed on. KP was totally fine letting everyone think it was Kate.
Justme
If so many times before things were stated as truths that were truths things would be different. I think most here are of a set that has paid attention to stories and events in full. Long past the initial headlines were quietly recanted. That’s why those here tend to question more. Because rarely are things as they appear.
Examples of those already proven are many with WK and steadily throughout history.
@FLORC , @anne_000
But it was blogs and Tumblr which said she took the picture on the step, not KP. This time KP specifically said that Kate took the pictures. Apparently @anne_000 is OK with the idea that Kate took the picture, she believes however that it was taken at the same time as this picture.
I see a difference in Charlotte in the two picture sessions. Her sweater fits differently and she seems slightly older in the “6 month chair” shot. And therefore since it has been said that they were taken at different times by different photographers, I think the most likely thing is that they were taken at separate times by different photographers.
But as I say, we can agree to disagree. It is a nice picture anyway.
justme
I don’t think i’m reading her comment the same as you are. That could be an issue on my end.
I want to hold tight to my comment though and not to Anne’s specific wording on this. More that like most public figures. And especially those that highly value secrecy to the point the security team can be so aggressive to even a private cell phone on public land from a private citizen of no threat. The image we arre sold is not often the truth. This is sadly found to be the norm too.
S that said I may not agree with individual theories, but it’s demonstrating independent thought as too many times we find out the image is a false one. IMO it’s along the same lines of politicians and other Royal family members claiming family values and to preach as they do when we should look past to the evidence.
@ Justme
I didn’t get either the late October and early November dates from blogs and Tumblr. I don’t even go to Tumblr. So I don’t know where you got the idea that these are the sources I got this info from. Rather, I got both dates from the media. Also, Kensington Palace has two tweets stating that the one in the chair was taken early in November.
I never said that I was ‘OK with the idea that Kate took the picture’ and I don’t think I’ve definitely said they were taken on the same date. You are putting words in my mouth.
I don’t know who took the photos of Charlotte in the chair anymore at this point. Your pushing the point has made me start to have doubts now. Though I don’t doubt that Kate is capable of pushing a button after the subject’s positioning and the camera’s setting have been set up by someone else.
I’m saying it’s odd that they’d dress her in the same exact outfit for two different occasions. This is why there are others who think the photos were taken on the same day, because they aren’t aware that W&K’s PR have said the different photo sessions were on different days and locations.
I believe the family photo is from KP’s garden, because LAK recognizes the setting.
As for the chair setting, who knows? W&K are very careful to limit interior pics of Amner and KP from being seen by the public.
Also, they could have driven from/to KP and Amner on the same day and taken both sets. Again who knows?
Like FLORC said, W&K’s PR team have put out info that contradicts what is found out later. They’ve even put out characterizations of W&K that are obviously not true.
@ FLOC
I agree that you and I are understanding my posts differently than justme does.
justme
well, we DO agree those are some lovely photographs.
Although, i feel for William looking like he’s photoshopped in. I have a few photos where I or another look like we “photobombed” a group photo. IMO it happens when there’s a group of 3. 1 face left, 1 center, 1 right. Outside of that any other face to the side looks out of place. Especially when the faces are angled away like the kids are from William.
For that reason i’ll side eye the composition of it all. Especially when i’m certain this was not a snap a few photos shoot. There’s a production behind that lens.
Anne
I just don’t take what i’m told as truths when too many times there’s been direct counters from PR statements to actions.
If D and V kept putting out those adorable baking christmas videos as an image and we found Daniel spending time with his young, hot assistant i’d side eye that too. Instead we see him as having eyes still sparkling for his wife.
And I thought in their 2016 video it was cute how they hugged after sort of bumping into each other. Sort of awkward, but ultimately cute. Estelle really steals the show!
Ok I apologize for any misinterpretation I made of your comments @anne_000. Also I never said you got that information from blogs and Tumblr. I was commenting on @FLORC’s comment about Georges picture on KP steps last year.
You had said that you had never said that two photographers were involved which led me to think you felt that Kate had taken the chair picture, but at the same time as the Christmas card picture. Obviously this was not what you wanted to convey.
What I am trying to say is that Charlotte appears bigger (her sweater sleeves seem shorter in the chair picture indicating growth and also just a little bit older.- in the way babies sometimes do around 6 months, a little more in control of their bodies)
Therefore the easiest and most likely solution is that what we are told is true. That the pictures were taken a few weeks part in different places and she just happened to wear the same outfit because, well it is cute? That is my take and your takes are different
justme
For what its worth your comment is plausable.
For me i’m looking at Kate’s hair to date the pictures. From when we’re told the Charlotte chair photo was taken and Kate’s hair at the time i’m thinking it was around the same time.
It’s almost a goto method that you can date photos by Kate’s hair length and size.
And those who see KP often like LAK or AmandaPanda can speak to when there was the autumn coloring like in the photo.
As much as the history of Camilla and Charles is really sorted and at times ugly, you can tell from the body language there is love and they are really into each other w no change over time.
I can’t say a darn bad thing ab the Cambridges picture …
Kate and the children look like the rock of the monarchy and William is trying to lean in. Why couldn’t William hold a child, too?
It is ridiculous that they emphasize how “normal” George will be treated in the nursery.
There will be bodyguards.
And the nursery staff will check several times whenever they do activities or whatever they teach.
Oh and of course many many parents will tell their little ones to try to befriend George.
I find Charles and Diana’s christmas cards fascinating because you can see the evolution of their relationship via the cards. 1981-1983, there is a cohesion and unity to them. 1984-1991, it’s growing distance and the cards are more formal, fantastic tableaus where it’s quite obvious that it is a composite of separate photoshoots.
If we’d followed their relationship via their christmas cards, it would have been so obvious to everyone that all was not well much earlier than whatever official story was being spun.
Interesting. I’m going to take a look at that.
I’m off to look those up as well. There are probably portraits I recall, but did not realize they were for Christmas cards.
there’s actually a DM story that has all the photos included.
Yes LAK, quite true indeed. Though the Xmas 1986 card sp- the body language still looks relatively OK between Charles and Diana ie- they’re seated close together. I’m willing to guess they still had good quality date nights and remember Diana herself said she really closed up shop by end of Portugal tour 1987.
You can almost see the distance growing and the smiles becoming less natural as the marriage unraveled. With hindsight of it all it’s an interesting observation to make.
The card from Charles and Camilla is so great.
It is. Those two were meant to be together. A lot of drama would have been avoided if the queen hadn’t insisted on his first marriage and if Charles had refused to do it at any cost.
There was more at play than that.
And didn’t Charles refuse heavily? It’s just not as simple as refuse at any cost and a union is all that would be avoided. Time lines, expectations of the times, other relationships, etc… were different. If it were that easy or even half that easy a lot more heirs would have rejected marriages they had a duty to enter into. And i’m not even factors in the strategic unions of land or military combinations/strongholds.
Camilla didn’t want to marry Charles. She wanted to marry Andrew Parker-Bowles (rumors are so did Princess Anne). Camilla had a fling with Charles and married APB when Charles was off with the Navy.
God, I just want to eat George up!!
But I’m kind of sad to see him grow out of his chubbular baby Churchill stage.
What great pictures! I love that Charlotte has such a Mona Lisa smile in that pic. Like she’s thinking, “Okay, a camera. I’d better smile for this picture. Wait! What? I lost my shoe! Oh no! He’s taking the picture anyway. *sigh* I’d better give him a smile anyway. Maybe no one will notice the shoe thing.” And George is clearly thinking, “I must run. I must run and play and jump on things. Will this guy just hurry up and snap the picture? I have places to run to!”
Love the photo. Such a cute family and adorable photo. I also really love Prince Charles and Camilla’s Christmas card photo, such a relaxed loving and affectionate photo..
Big G looks like he’s about to bolt! That is a great picture of the family.
Who does Charlotte resemble? I feel like I get a strong Carole Middleton vibe from her.
Love the setting, missing Lupo.
I think she favors the Queen, especially the eyes, Fallon.
Dead ringer for Aunt Pippa. Minus the orange.
The kids are so cute but OMG I love the one of Chaz and Camilla! I don’t know, they look so … well they look like they belong together, frankly. … What is happening, am I going soft???
I think there has always been real love between Charles and Camilla. They look really relaxed and at ease with each other.
I have to agree. They look truly content in each other’s company.
I think Kate’s hand is under Charlottes dress? That’s why it looks like she’s perching magically.
I thought that too from the angle of Kate’s arm.
Agree.
Nursery school in Norfolk means that Kate can conveniently avoid charitable duties and she is out of the public eye.
How much did that renovation of Kensington Palace cost?
I guess this lovely photo is an attempt fo deflect that little tidbit of information.
The structural renovations that had to be done were costly. The extra knocking down and shifting walls added to that cost outside of the asbestos removal. There was no need outside of cosmetic. Then there’s the cost of building without things like fabrics, appliances, and custom furniture cost.
Once those renovations where completed with added rush costing more everything was purple. So the repainting with new fabrics and furniture went on to a great rush with more cost because it was to be their home base post George birth. Tack in they shortly later had a family kitchen installed and then a baby prep kitchen added we are talking millions and millions. LAK or NOTA might have the more accurate numbers with some details on how things get listed. Because you know they’re not wording it as WK KP renovation expense. That would be wonderful if they did though!
As a side point to this there were just over a million pounds to the Midds residence of tax funds so Kate and George could live there with their full staff while KP finished. And then to stay longer for Anmer Hall. KP got some use, but very little as WK were seen everywhere, but there for a good length of time.
Cute photo but those kids have Middleton genes. George is a blonde Mike and Charloette is a little Carole.
LOVE the photo of Cams and Chuck.
Georges hair looks like brown to me, like it has in every photo, this photo has been lightening, there’s no way he’s a natural blonde with haze;/brown eyes. No way. And William isnt a natural blonde either, despite that always being reported its a medium/light brown.
I am green-hazel eyed, as were my parents. We were blonde until eight or nine years of age, when we progressed to honey and then darker hair. My mother was naturally platinum blonde at George’s age. I have a brown eyed cousin who was also very blonde until adulthood.
Hazel or brown eyes and blonde hair can happen, especially in early childhood.
My entire family is blonde when we are children, regardless of whether we have blue/green or brown eyes. I was dark blonde until I was about 5 and have brown eyes. My brother was platinum blonde with dark brown eyes until he was 8 or so. And some of us with brown eyes keep the blond into adulthood. There isn’t a genetic relationship between eye color and hair color.
Oh my goodness, all I see when I look at charlotte is Carole! She’s the spitting image of her! Now all the sycophants will go in about how these cute kids are the most beautiful humans on the planet.
Wills looks disengaged as usual nowadays. Probably annoyed he has to take this picture.
That picture of Charles and Camilla is vibrant with their closeness. Say what you will, they seem to really still love each other after all these years.
And from the sounds of it, George’s bodyguards are going to have to protect the other kids from him!
Spot on Jib!
Old looking kids with a bit of the middletons; and PG in Norfolk school will be the excuse (without HG) for the secret year long hiding by w*k.
Why release both cards on the same day as the beautiful loving Prince Charles and Do Cornwall card …
Ah, so cute, Georgie boy and little baby Carole.
yeah, totally…the eyes, man, the eyes!
sorry for threadjacking, but since it is Christmas related…
i came back from work to find a notification from my subscribe to the Swedish Royals youtube channel: Princess Estelle’s Christmas Greetings!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IVCvDpduk0c
she has grown so big. she and George seems to have similar mischievous glint in their eyes. imagine if they met up?
That was charming. Thanks for sharing it. What a sweet family.
that’s so cute! Princess Estelle is my favorite royal kid, she’s adorable. They’re such a lovely, low key, loving family. I’m thrilled Princess Victoria is having another one.
So cute! And I found Daniel and Victoria’s interaction to be so sweet and normal. And Estelle is just charming.
Thanks for sharing. Estelle is adorable. Victoria & Daniel are cute. So happy for them.
I adore the way this family is.
LCD – I forgive you for threadjacking! Thank you for sharing such a great video! Princess Estelle is an absolute doll and seems very self-possessed and happy. I love seeing Prince Daniel and Princess Victoria: they are so wonderful together! The Cambridges could learn a lot from them.
I really like C&C’s holiday card. I’m sorry people had to get hurt (‘woulda, coulda, shoulda), but I am happy that they are able to be together now and I wish them many years of continued happiness.
My favorite royal family!! Thank you for sharing this.
I love the photo of Charles and Camilla – they’re clearly in love and at ease with one another. Their photo seems very natural and sweet.
The photo of the Cambridges is another story. I think the kids are cute but it looks like William was photo shopped into the photo! Why isn’t he looking forward like everyone else in the picture? Plus, he is rather distant from everyone in the photo – would have looked better if he had been holding George or Charlotte with one arm and the other arm was around Catherine. He is putting me off of the photo entirely.
ha, Big G is ready to bolt. Kate looks like a regular mom. Holding C with one hand and grabbing G by the elbow with the other. Her too toothy smile seems to say’ just take the dratted pic before the kid goes loose and my useless husband looks like he’s either about to bolt or fart..pardon,,break wind’.
I like G’s preppy clothes. just the shorts part bugs me a bit. it’s like I see sometimes on the school run when mom is dressed in a warm coat and the baby in the stroller is bare headed and in a little thin sleeper. my pet peeve is underdressed kids
No Montessori for my kid…Waldorf all the way. but in our neck of woods Montessori schools are on every corner.
Charles and Camilla card is just so very nice. I don’t care for any of them but I like how naturally in sync they seem to be.
Ditto to the Montessori comment…they have been watered down to nothing but highly priced, almost neglectful daycares here in MD, and literally are on every street corner. I visited a few for my older son (before I decided to just read some books on MM and employ some of her techniques at home) and was not impressed at all.
Only the ones run by certified AMI or AMS teachers are legit.
I’m in northern Virginia and I’m afraid I just got lazy and never visited all of the many local Montessori schools. My daughter is thriving in her daycare and there seemed to be no reason to rock the boat. A friend has a kid in Montessori in DC and loves it.
Haha, released immediately after that former bodyguard’s burning piece :))))
It would have been released regardless…
Not according to their press office. It was originally meant to be private but they liked it so much they deigned to show it to us.
No. This would have been only circulated privately. No press. And would know where the leak was if it was released.
This was intended to be public without question and if they chose for it to be private it would have remained private.
That is always the story. Oh, this pic was supposed to remain private but they just had to show it to the public. It’s a distraction. Because William IS arrogant and childish and lazy – it’s like libel, truth is an absolute defence.
I absolutely love this pic 😍 It looks really natural and not stuffy at all. Everyone looks so happy!
For fans of Scandinavian royals, Sweden has released a new video of Victoria, Daniel, and Estelle baking for Christmas. You can find it on the Kungahuset channel on YouTube.
I’m from the American South, and people often dress their boys and girls this way, especially for holidays and portraits.
It looks like Kate has her hand around Charlotte’s waist, and that’s why she looks perched up there.
I LOVE Montessori. I went to a federally funded Montessori based preschool, and now my oldest is in third grade at a Montessori school. My twins start kindergarten there next year.
I imagine it’s pretty hard to get the baby and George to look at the camera at the same time. That’s probably as good as it got.
Montessori, huh? That would probably be a good idea for the little slugger.
Holy Middleton genes on Charlotte, she looks nothing like the Windsors! I love the picture, to me honestly Will looks like he is keeping an eye for any George shenanigans, not looking on proudly.
I want to see Harry’s Christmas card….giggity…giggity!
I love both photos! Charles and Camilla look adorable.I think it’s the first photo of them on which they look totally natural and cuddly. You can actually believe they’re in love. The Cambridges look good too, I like the fact that Charlotte lost her shoe and they have it in the photo. George is a doll.. I only wish Diana could see him now..
The difference between an ok picture (this one) and a great picture would be seeing one of Kate’s hands on the baby and the other one on George. I keep searching for her hands. Seeing the baby perched like that without a visible clue of HOW she is being secured leaves the viewer feeling uneasy. You almost feel as if you want to reach out and hold her steady. It also makes it look like she has been plopped there by photoshop.
Hands are often used as ways to guide the viewers eyes from one person to the next. It provides a visual linking of each person and shows intimacy. A further improvement would be to have one of Will’s dangling hands visibly cupped around Kate’s shoulders.
It would link father to mother, and mother being linked to baby and toddler, completes the circle.
Look at Charles and Camilla….the picture is vastly improved by seeing their hands touching each other. The intimacy and closeness between them is palpable.
Excellent description. Composition of the Cambridge photo is so very odd.
With all due respect, some people are being too analytical here. It’s a lovely family photo. And I like the fact it was outdoors- so pretty, the natural environment.
I sort of think that’s reading too far. I didn’t feel uneasy..
Yeah.
Didn’t anyone hunt around for Kate’s hands? She’s got two of them, but neither are visible.
It’s like when you see a picture that is missing something you know should be there…your brain starts filling it in for you.
I contrast this picture with Charles and Camilla’s. The placement of their hands on each other, as well as the way she is leaning into him, contributes a lot to the warmth and intimacy they project.
Kate’s using both hands to hold Charlotte, they’re under Charlotte’s dress.
I disagree with the hands thing. She holding Charlotte with one hand and looks like she has a hold of George by his elbow with the other.
Beautiful family, beautiful photo! I love how they dress George. Beautiful smiles all around.
Charles and Camilla’s photo is lovely to. They look like they are still truly in love. That’s nice to see especially at their age.
Charles & Camilla’s card is wonderful. They are truly a well-matched, loved up couple. Good for them.
Cute pic of the Cambridges and William.
Both are cute pics!
George is so cute! Charlotte is so plain by comparison.
Charlotte is repeating her outfit. So frugal, just like her mama. J/k, I know it’s probably the same day as when the other pic was taken.
Charlotte is so tiny but already doing a repeat of her wardrobe 🙂
Chuck and Cammi look so in love, and then go their separate ways!
Anyone with the patience of Job couldn’t live with an “Aspie.”
Completely adorable!!!
I know it has been touched on already:
Charlotte is wearing the same outfit in this shot as the ones Kate allegedly took and released earlier in the month. The same day a photographer is at their home to shoot them for a Christmas card as a family. So are we to assume that Kate then caught up in the excitement of capturing the family via pics, decided to take pictures herself of Charlotte and then release them with the caveat in big capital letters that she took the pics? Little miss work shy decided to actually do something instead of farming it out to the staff? Or did the Cambridge’s again claim credit for someone else’s work?
I’m on board with the thought that maybe this photographer took the Charlotte pics and Kate then claimed she took them?? I mean she has claimed other people’s written word as her own in her speeches and is clearly work-shy claiming more credit than she has actually achieved. I may be being too cynical but considering every know comment about Kate’s ability to take pics has never been positive and that the kid is in the exact same outfit for both photos so I’d assume that photos were taken the same day. I don’t think she took the earlier photos of Charlotte – this photographer did and when released, Kate stole his picture credit. It’s not like he guy is going to call them out.
All of them were photoshopped- 4 people from 4 different photos combined into one. This was not taken with all of them together on the same day at the same time. Look at it twice.
Yeah, the more I look at it, the more I definitely think this is a Frankenphoto. Originally I thought just William was ‘shopped in, but now I’m thinking they all were.
All of these photos get some level of edits. Original to final product will nearly ALWAYS show a difference anyone can tell. With the Cambridges here there are several places here where edits were easily made and done so often.
This is nothing that isn’t expected. In the grnad scheme it doesn’t matter. Just keep working and stay visible.
LOL…the more I look at this sorry excuse for a Christmas card the more Willy looks photo-shopped in as an afterthought.
And to me the baby’s dropped shoe looks staged and ridiculous.
I can’t zoom in but I don’t think it’s a shoe. It looks more like a little white toy car to go along with the toy train. Did KP confirm it’s a shoe? LOL
LOL good point Citresse!! I was looking at what I thought was a shoelace but it seems awfully long for a baby shoelace. Maybe it’s one of poor Lupo’s toys 😉
(I wonder if Lupo has been rehomed now that Waity and Willy have these two spawn. That happens sometimes in “normal” families.)
Tough Cookie
I had the LOL in my comment thinking of an urgent directive from HM to clear up matter (s) involving the white, unidentified object in the Cambridge Xmas photo.
Also, it seems someone is upset with “Big Wally” at the Times and other papers showing same sentiment. Wharfe, it appears, has some inside information.
It’s a baby shoe, just a bit of soft leather with a little ankle strap.
The Express is referring to Charles as “Big Ears”…. yes, something is going on and Mr. Wharfe knows. Are we going to find out soon?
Probably enhanced with photoshop. If you see the pic in the Express, alot of the scenery has been cropped, and the photo looks better. Not unusual for the dad to be keeping his eye on the toddler. Would have been nice if all 4 were looking at the camera, but its harder to accomplish with little ones.
Its a lovely family foto, I saved it. I have no problem with Charlotte wearing the same outfit; my sister found an outfit for her little daughter and not not bought the size 2 for now–but bought a size 4 for later.
Kaiser,
Have you seen the cover of the Sunday Times?! OMG, they just entirely cropped out Will- the Prince, heir, and future King. I can’t stop cackling. What is this joy I’m feeling?!
https://twitter.com/ikonpictures/status/677992581641433088
This was Hilarious! And the Botox caption as a bonus. Who didn’t see this coming?
A part of me is curious. With future photos do you think William will be more centered?? Or he gets to hold a child?
I have been saying for some time the marriage is on the rocks. If they can’t even get Willy to pose for a picture with his wife and kiddies for Xmas, and they have to photoshop 4 different pictures, it’s only a matter of time! The British people will be livid when this thing folds, 70 million down the drain,of which we had to pay 35 million of it! I remember my mom said it was a sin to spend 450,000 on a dress she was going to be in for a few hours,even if the Midds did pay for the dress! I think I feel the most sorry for Michael Middleton, he was ambivalent about Willy for years !
Yes, I’ve always wondered what Michael Middleton’s opinion is of this marriage. Most dads would not be too pleased if their daughter put their life on hold for 10 years for some guy. I find Kate’s close relationship with her mother offputting– I think she’d be much more accepted if her family was tucked away in the background, it appears she can’t handle things without her mother. James and Pippa should not be very visible at all–wish they would go away.
Christmas pic is OK/cute. It’s hard to get a good posed shot of a group when 2 of them are small children.
The Cambridge photo is fine. But Charles and Camilla’s is much better. I don’t think everyone was shopped into the Cambridge one. I think they are just that awkward and William is being his usual disconnected self.
The kids are really cute, the shoe on the floor is endearing.
However I can’t stand the old fashioned traditional way they keep dressing George, while styling themselves according to the latest fashion. He is a little boy, let him wear cute kid stuff, not hideous men sandals and pullovers all the time
The kids are cute.
Charles and Cam look great.
That’s all I have. 🙂
Just here to ask: How can two light-eyed parents have a brown-eyed child?? (George) Blue eyes are recessive, so two blue- or green-eyed parents will always have a light-eyed child. I smell sperm donor or egg donor. Pippa has brown eyes. Just sayin’
Amatuer Geneticist
1st. Pippa has hazel eyes. With changes in lighting if her eyes are brown so are Kates.
Kate has hazel. Her father has Brown and mother has blue.
Charlotte’s eyes are still blue because she’s an infant. We can’t assume that is going to stick for life at this point.
And if you like theories with no factual support how about the one Kate wears contacts to lighten her eyes?
As a side note I see pregnant women almost daily. I’ve become quite good as knowing before they show. Kate absolutely carried 2 pregnancies. No Question. There’s absolutely no support that she didn’t.