Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex chose a smiling photo from a visit to Scotland for their 2021 Christmas card.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex, known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar in Scotland, are pictured smiling at Forfar Golf Course in June.
A snap of the card was shared on Instagram by Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke, who took the photo.
Seasons greetings! Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex chose a smiling photo from a visit to Scotland for their 2021 Christmas card. The Earl and Countess of Wessex, known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar in Scotland, are pictured smiling at Forfar Golf Course in June, above
A snap of the card was shared on Instagram by royal photographer Tim Rooke, who took the photo of the couple, above
He tweeted: ‘Delighted The Earl and Countess of Wessex chose my picture for their Christmas Card this year. The picture was taken on a visit to Forfar Golf Club where the Earl made his debut in Forfar Tartan.’
In the photo, Sophie, 56, is seen beaming in a navy blazer and navy dress printed with a vibrant floral design.
She is holding a light blue clutch bag and finished the look with a pair of drop earrings.
By her side is Prince Edward, 57, dressed in a tweed blazer, striped shirt and his Forfar tartan kilt.
It comes two weeks after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released their Christmas card.
The family were photographed on a secret trip to Jordan earlier this year.
The Cambridges appear with their three children in the family snap. Kate looks glowing in a khaki dress, while Princess Charlotte looks all grown up as she perches on a stool in a gingham dress from Mango. Prince George beams as he poses in a £14.95 camo t-shirt from GAP and grey shorts.
Family affair! It comes two weeks after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released their Christmas card, pictured. The family were photographed on a secret trip to Jordan this year
Meawhile, Prince Louis sits cross-legged at the front in a stripey £32 polo shirt from Rachel Riley – a bigger version of the top Prince George wore from the brand during an official visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney when he was nine-months-old, as well as laceless slip-on sneakers by Hampton Canvas, which have been worn by both his older brother and sister.
It’s not been revealed exactly when the family travelled to Jordan, but the visit is likely to have taken place in the later part of the year when travel restrictions were relaxed.
Jordan holds a special significance for the family because the Duchess of Cambridge spent part of her childhood in the country where her father worked as a flight dispatcher for British Airways, and when William visited the Middle East in 2018 on an official tour, he spoke of their intention to come back with their children in the future.
Supportive husband! Prince Charles chose a somewhat unusual image for his Christmas card, featuring himself and the Duchess of Cornwall at Royal Ascot. The image shows Charles helping his wife with her face mask, in a nod to the ongoing Covid pandemic
The Cambridges were not the only royals to share their Christmas card, with Prince Charles releasing an image of himself fixing the Duchess of Cornwall’s face mask at the races for his festive offering.
The picture, taken on the second day of Royal Ascot in June, shows the heir-to-the-throne, 72, helping his wife, 73, to adjust her face mask beside the racetrack.
The snap, which will be the Prince of Wales’ festive greeting this year, seems especially fitting in light of new restrictions requiring people in England to wear masks on public transport, shops and indoor public spaces such as post offices, theatres and hairdressers.
But it also depicts Charles as a loving husband to Camilla, whom he married in April 2005 after a love affair that lasted decades.