The Prince and Princess of Wales have released their annual Christmas card featuring a previously unpublished family photo taken in Norfolk showing all five royals togetherJennifer Newton Royal Features Writer and Holly Morgan Senior Reporter
17:04, 18 Dec 2025
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children in a photo for their 2025 Christmas card(Image: @KensingtonRoyal/Josh Shinner)
The Prince and Princess of Wales have unveiled the brand new family photograph featured on their 2025 Christmas card. The previously unseen image, shared on Kensington Palace’s social media channels, captures Prince William and Kate sitting on grass amongst spring daffodils alongside their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Charlotte can be seen resting her head on her father’s shoulder whilst holding his arm, a casual Louis is leaning back positioned between William’s legs, and Kate has her arm wrapped around George.
The accompanying message states: “Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.” The photograph was captured by Josh Shinner in Norfolk last April. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
George and Louis are wearing identical outfits to those seen in portraits released in April and subsequently July, indicating the family photograph originated from the same session.
It has become a Royal Family custom for members of the Firm to issue a Christmas card featuring a personal photograph, and this year’s selection follows a succession of delightful family images William and Kate have shared throughout the years, reports the Mirror.
The picture that featured on the Wales Family’s Christmas card last year(Image: Will Warr/Kensington Palace/PA Wire)
Last year’s photograph depicted the Wales family with their arms embracing one another whilst smiling. It was extracted from footage released by Kate last September, which announced she would resume public engagements following the conclusion of her chemotherapy treatment after her cancer diagnosis last year.
In 2023, the Wales family’s Christmas card photo depicted all five members in a formal pose, donned in matching white shirts and dark denim jeans. This was a stark contrast to the 2022 snap, which captured the couple casually dressed, hand-in-hand with their children during a walk in Norfolk.
The 2021 card showcased the family unwinding on a private holiday in Jordan.
The location of that year’s photo held particular significance for Kate, as she spent part of her childhood years in Jordan, where her father Mike was employed by British Airways.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Christmas card from the Wales family portrayed them huddled together in casual attire at Anmer Hall, their country residence near the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The unveiling of the card coincided with the Wales family resuming an annual Royal Family Christmas tradition yesterday, after having missed it with their children the previous year.
William and Kate were spotted driving with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis into the gates of Buckingham Palace for the Royal Family’s annual pre-Christmas lunch for extended family.
This festive gathering is hosted for all members of the Royal Family and typically takes place about a week before Christmas, with approximately 70 of the King’s relatives invited to the celebration.
Prince William and Princess Kate with their three children at the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service(Image: Getty Images)
It provides the family an opportunity to reconnect, as not all of them will be participating in the festivities at Sandringham, including the walk to church and Christmas dinner on December 25 itself.
Last year, while Kate was still recuperating from cancer treatment, the Wales family chose not to attend the occasion, opting instead to celebrate Christmas at their Norfolk residence, Amner Hall.
This year, however, they were spotted arriving at and departing from the palace for the gathering, with Kate embracing the festive season in a vibrant red dress, adorned with a black bow in her hair and £6,300 Van Cleef earrings. Princess Charlotte mirrored her mother’s style with a matching bow, paired with a burgundy ensemble.
Earlier in December, Kate launched the festive season with her traditional carol service, where her children embraced the theme of unity by adding their names to a symbolic tree.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis accompanied their parents to Kate’s annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, where they enjoyed an evening filled with seasonal music.
Upon arrival, the well-dressed siblings hung red paper loops bearing their handwritten names on a “Connection Tree”. The installation symbolises unity and the significance of shared moments, with each attendee contributing a personalised loop to form paper chains.
Kate arrived at the Abbey separately from her family ahead of the service to greet performers and readers, including Hollywood stars Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor and vocalist Katie Melua. She informed Dan Smith, the frontman of Bastille, that her children were eagerly anticipating the service: “They’re really excited, it’s become such a tradition.”
In other news, the King and Queen selected their 20th wedding anniversary portrait for this year’s official Christmas card. Charles and Camilla are depicted standing side by side, with the Queen’s arm entwined with the King’s, in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome, earlier this year.
Charles and Camilla’s 2025 Christmas card (Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images/PA)
The photograph is encased within the card by a dark red border, with the printed message in a matching hue on the opposite side stating “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year”.
The Royal couple celebrated their landmark 20 years of marriage on April 9, 2025 while abroad on Royal duty during their state visit to Italy, and spent the evening of their anniversary as guests of honour at a grand banquet.