The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a Christmas card this year by way of a new image of them with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The photo was taken earlier this year at Kensington Palace by Getty photographer Chris Jackson, who is married to Kate’s friend and style consultant, Natasha Archer.
The Cambridges only sometimes release an official card, so it’s always a treat when they do. To be honest I completely forgot that they did a card last year, but a quick Google search confirms that they released an image taken of the whole family during their tour of Canada last September. But while last year’s card didn’t offer a “new” image, the family was on full display arriving and leaving church in Berkshire last Christmas, thus offsetting the issue. This card is likely meant to make up for the fact that we probably won’t see George and Charlotte at Sandringham this year.
This appears to have been part of a larger photo shoot between Jackson and the Cambridges, since the image released for George’s fourth birthday in July was taken the same day. It’s safe bet these photos are from June or earlier given that Kate debuted shorter hair in July. It certainly marks a departure from the more informal image released in 2015, but I like the juxtaposition of a formal portrait with the more casual picture we are often given on birthdays, etc.
The only (small) complaint I have is that since we haven’t seen the family together since July it would have been nice to have seen a more recent photo, even if that meant just one of George and Charlotte.
Fashion-wise, Kate recycled a pale blue Catherine Walker skirt suit that she debuted during her first solo trip abroad to the Netherlands in October 2016. It was a hit when she wore it then, and I still like it today.
Kensington Palace took a two birds, one stone approach today by also announcing that Charlotte will begin at Willcocks Nursery School in January. Located in Kensginton, close to home, it resembles the set up that William and Kate implemented when George began nursery school in Norfolk at the start of 2016.
And ICYMI, but below is the Christmas card put out by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall this year:
We’ll next see the Cambridges tomorrow or Wednesday when they’re photographed arriving for the Queen’s Christmas luncheon in London. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are expected to leave for Sandringham later this week, and it’s quite likely that William and Kate will follow suit at Anmer Hall as soon as George’s school lets out for break.