Celebrities

The Royal family share their official Christmas cards for 2022

King Charles & Camilla and Prince William & Kate celebrate Christmas by sharing this year's cards

'Tis the season for season's greetings! And this year's royal cards have been shared online by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince William and Kate shared a brand new family photo as this year's official Christmas card image - showing them walking hand-in-hand with their children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in the Norfolk countryside.

The family, coordinated in a cohesive casual blue-themed ensemble, show the kids in short sleeve tops and shorts while their parents are casually dressed in jeans and sneakers. They were snapped by photographer Matt Porteous, who also took Prince George's photos on his fifth birthday.

For King Charles and the Queen Consort's Christmas card, they chose a photograph taken days before Queen Elizabeth's death.

Their photo was taken at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on 3 September, five days before her death. It features Charles wearing a tweed suit with a red, green and beige tie, while his wife Camilla is wearing a green suit, matching hat with a pheasant motif and pearl earrings.

Photographer Sam Hussein posted an image of the card on Instagram, sharing that he was "Really proud that my photo has been selected as the King and Queen Consort's Christmas card for a second consecutive year."

Royal fans believe the choice of photo was an ode to Charles's mother, who was a great fan of the Games at Braemar Royal Highland Gathering. This year marked the first time that Charles had attended on behalf of his mother; and was the first time she had been unable to attend the Games in her 70-year reign.

Fans believe the photo was perhaps "chosen to reflect that transition – and demonstrate Charles's desire to continue the traditions set out by his mother."

The King will also carry out his mum's tradition to host Christmas at Sandringham this year and give the annual Christmas Day speech to the world.