The Duchess of Cambridge has taken an adorable new family photograph of Prince William kissing Prince Louis on the cheek.
The black and white photo shows the Duke of Cambridge with their youngest child, while Princess Charlotte and Prince George look towards the camera.
The duke wears a flat cap as he holds on closely to his son in the photo, which was taken by the duchess, a keen photographer, earlier this year in Norfolk.
Princess Charlotte also appears to be holding on to her younger brother as she stands behind him, while Prince George sits next to them in a chair as he cheekily smirks at the camera.
The black and white photo shows the Duke of Cambridge kissing their youngest child Prince Louis on the cheek, while Princess Charlotte and Prince George look towards the camera
The Kensington Palace official Twitter account sent out the photo on Christmas Day. This is not the first time Kate, one of the world’s most photographed people, has gone behind the lens and released her own pictures
This is not the first time Kate, one of the world’s most photographed people, has gone behind the lens and released her own pictures.
The duchess was named as the new patron of the Royal Photographic Society earlier this year following her flourishing passion in photography.
A history of art graduate, the duchess has previously been praised for her photographic portraits of her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Kensington Palace has often published photos taken by Kate to mark milestones in her children’s lives, such as birthdays and first days at nursery.
This is not the first time Kate, one of the world’s most photographed people, has gone behind the lens and released her own pictures
The duchess began the tradition in 2015 when she took the first official portraits of Princess Charlotte, rather than hiring a photographer.
It comes just a day after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s own Christmas card, with son Archie, was revealed.
The enchanting family photo showed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex laughing as they pose in front of a Christmas tree, with Archie’s cute face popping up in the foreground of the image.
The festive black and white card was shared on social media by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust on Monday night and says: ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours.’
Prince William is pictured above in a Christmas card with the Duchess of Cambridge, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte
At the bottom is says ‘this year we have chosen to send our holiday card electronically.’
It is understood that copies of the image, taken by the couple’s friend Janina Gavankar, were emailed to friends and staff on Monday and hard copies sent to family.
It comes after the royal couple, who have been outspoken on environmental issues, were accused of hypocrisy for their high carbon footprint, after taking a number of private jets in the past year.
In a tweet on Monday evening the Trust said: ‘Just sharing the sweetest Christmas Card from our President and Vice-President, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Very Merry Christmas, everyone!’
The enchanting family photo shows the Duke and Duchess of Sussex laughing as they pose in front of a Christmas tree, with Archie’s cute face popping up in the foreground of the image
A source told the Mirror: ‘Harry and Meghan sent a selection of hard copy cards to family but chose to send their cards electronically this year with the aim of being environmentally conscious as well as being in Canada where they are currently enjoying a six week break away from royal duties.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took Archie away for an extended break last month in Canada, and have been keeping a low profile ever since.
The duchess, a former actress, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits, and the couple were famously pictured together when Meghan joined her then-boyfriend Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games in the Canadian city.
The Sussexes are likely to have spent the US Thanksgiving celebrations, which this year fell on November 28, with the duchess’ mother Gloria Ragland.
The couple have missed the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.
And they will not be present for the traditional royal family gathering at the monarch’s private Sandringham estate on Christmas Day.
A helping hand from Grandpa! Adorable moment Prince Charles shows Prince George how to mix up his Christmas pudding during family cooking session with the Queen and Prince William
Prince George is shown enthusiastically stirring a Christmas pudding in footage released to mark four generations of the royal family supporting a Royal British Legion project.
In the touching scenes, the Queen, the legion’s patron, and Prince of Wales watch as the Duke of Cambridge helps his son mix the festive treat.
The duke adds what appears to be fruits to the mixing bowl as his son embraces his job of making sure all the ingredients are well blended.
Prince George is shown enthusiastically stirring a Christmas pudding in footage released to mark four generations of the royal family supporting a Royal British Legion project
After prompting from his father, George repeatedly stabs at the thick pudding mixture with a wooden spoon, making his grandfather Charles laugh.
Charles and William are also featured trying their hand at Christmas pudding making and the duke is seen holding his son’s hand at the Buckingham Palace event staged earlier this month.
The footage will feature in the Queen’s Christmas Day message due to be broadcast on Christmas Day.
The puddings were mixed for the Royal British Legion’s Together at Christmas initiative, which aims to provide extra support to the Armed Forces community at annual festive ‘get-togethers’ across the charity’s network, both at home and abroad.
From 2020, the annual events will be hosted at high street locations, care homes, membership branches and other outreach locations.
The footage was released on the same day the Royal Family were reunited after Prince Philip was released from hospital.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 98, was met with rapturous applause from visitors and well-wishers on the ground after arriving at Sandringham estate in a helicopter.
Charles, 71, and his wife Camilla arrived at the Queen’s estate in a separate helicopter shortly beforehand.
Dressed in a suit and tie, Prince Philip had left King Edward VII’s hospital in central London at 8.49am following treatment for a pre-existing medical condition, before being driven to Buckingham Palace and then flown by helicopter Sandringham in Norfolk, arriving at 9.40am.
The footage will feature in the Queen’s Christmas Day message due to be broadcast on Christmas Day to the whole nation
After prompting from his father, George repeatedly stabs at the thick pudding mixture with a wooden spoon, making his grandfather Charles laugh
The Duke thanked medical staff and shook the hand of his nurse as he left the hospital where he had spent four nights, before walking to his car unaided.
Flight tracking records reveal he was picked up in London at around 9.05am by a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter which whisked him up to the 20,000-acre Royal estate, flying at speeds of up to 175mph at a height of 3,300ft.
Philip’s return to Sandringham will have added significance for his family because while most people open their presents on Christmas Day, the royal family still keep to the German practice of unwrapping their gifts on Christmas Eve.
Charles and William are also featured trying their hand at Christmas pudding making and the duke is seen holding his son’s hand at the Buckingham Palace event staged earlier this month
The whole group stand for a picture as they enjoy the festive activity. These special puddings will form part of 99 distributed across the legion’s network in time for the Christmas 2020 get-togethers
In the footage the royal family stirred four puddings together – which traditionally brings good luck – and each placed commemorative sixpences into the mixture, ready to be found by those attending the gatherings next year.
These special puddings will form part of 99 distributed across the legion’s network in time for the Christmas 2020 get-togethers, marking the charity’s ninety-ninth year.
Charles Byrne, the Royal British Legion’s director general, said: ‘The legion is not only here for older veterans, but all ages of the Armed Forces community.
‘As the Monarch and next three generations, Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses represent a cross-section of those supported by the legion, from the children of service personnel, to Second World War veterans.
‘Christmas can be a time when people’s troubles and worries are exacerbated by the financial pressures of the season or feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The royal family stirred four puddings together – which traditionally brings good luck – and each placed commemorative sixpences into the mixture, ready to be found by those attending the gatherings next year
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George alongside veterans Liam Young, Colin Hughes, Alex Cavaliere, Barbra Hurman and Lisa Evans, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, during the launch of The Royal British Legion’s Together at Christmas initiative in London
‘The extra support the legion can give, and the camaraderie of our get-togethers can make a big difference to our community’s well-being.’
The Queen and the three future kings mixed the puddings last week in the magnificent Music Room, one of Buckingham Palace’s 19 State Rooms, and the place where Prince William was christened.
Behind them stands a Christmas tree, adorned with regal decorations and baubles, including crowns, corgis, a throne and Scots Guards wearing kilts and bearskin hats.
The Queen wore a light blue dress designed by Angela Kelly with a sapphire and diamond brooch, while Prince George wore a pique piped shirt by British designer Rachel Riley.
One’s bumpy year: The Queen uses her Christmas message to acknowledge a turbulent 2019 for the royals (but there’s no photo of Harry and Meghan on her desk like last year… and definitely no Andrew!)
The Queen will reflect on the ‘bumpy’ year endured by both the Royal Family and the nation in her Christmas broadcast today.
Addressing a turbulent 12 months in which Prince Andrew was forced to step down from public duties, she will say ‘small steps’ can overcome difficulties and division.
Her annual broadcast will be directed mainly at national issues in a year dominated by Brexit and a general election. But royal sources said it would also cover problems in her own family.
Prince Philip faced a police probe over a car crash, Prince Harry acknowledged tensions in his relationship with his elder brother William, and Harry’s wife Meghan admitted she was struggling with her new life as a royal.
2019, A SLIMMED-DOWN ROYAL FAMILY: The Queen sits beside photographs of Charles and Camilla (1), Prince Philip (2), the Cambridges’ Christmas card picture (3), and her father George VI
2018: Queen Elizabeth II after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message, in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in London. Prince Harry and Meghan can be seen in two framed photographs (circled)
But the biggest ‘bump’ faced by the Royal Family was the fallout from the Duke of York’s disastrous Newsnight interview about his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In a photograph of her speech, there was no picture of Prince Harry and Meghan on her desk like last year – when she had two in the shot – and also no sign of Prince Andrew.
Andrew, 59, is expected to watch his mother’s televised broadcast to the nation with the rest of the family at Sandringham.
She will say: ‘Small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.
‘The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.’
Andrew stepped back from public life following November’s ‘car crash’ BBC interview in which he attempted to explain his friendship with Epstein. He repeatedly denied claims that he had sex with one of the disgraced financier’s victims, Virginia Roberts, when she was just 17. Miss Roberts then accused him of lying. The Queen’s second son also faced calls to speak to the FBI about his relationship with Epstein, who was found dead in his prison cell in August awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Andrew was effectively sacked by his mother after his older brother Charles warned her that the scandal threatened to engulf the monarchy. (pictured: Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview with the BBC)
The comments are believed to be her first public reference to the turmoil faced by her family this year.
She dubbed 1992 an ‘annus horribilis’ in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession.
In that year Charles separated from Princess Diana, Andrew split from his wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne divorced Captain Mark Phillips, and a fire engulfed Windsor Castle.
Andrew stepped back from public life following November’s ‘car crash’ BBC interview in which he attempted to explain his friendship with Epstein.
He repeatedly denied claims that he had sex with one of the disgraced financier’s victims, Virginia Roberts, when she was just 17. Miss Roberts then accused him of lying.
Harry and Meghan will not be at Sandringham, but will spend their first Christmas with baby Archie with Meghan’s mother Doria in Canada, as revealed last Saturday by the Mail. The couple also missed the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. Harry and William split their households earlier this year following reports of a rift between them. In a TV documentary, Harry said his relationship with his elder brother had ‘good days and bad days’, and they were ‘on different paths’ (pictured: Harry and Meghan on their tour of Africa in September)
The Queen’s second son also faced calls to speak to the FBI about his relationship with Epstein, who was found dead in his prison cell in August awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
Andrew was effectively sacked by his mother after his older brother Charles warned her that the scandal threatened to engulf the monarchy.
He is expected to join the family at church today but may choose to sit with the Queen as she is driven to the service instead of joining the rest of the family as they walk and greet wellwishers.
For the first time Prince George and Princess Charlotte may accompany their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It is thought that at six and four they are now old enough to sit through the service.
Their younger brother, Prince Louis, 19 months, will stay at Sandringham with his nanny, Maria Borrallo.
Royal sources say William and Kate will make a final decision, in conjunction with the Queen, on whether to bring the children when they wake up this morning.
Prince Philip faced a police investigation over a car crash which injured two women (pictured: the Duke of Edinburgh talking to the Queen while at the wheel during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in November 2018)
Harry and Meghan will not be at Sandringham, but will spend their first Christmas with baby Archie with Meghan’s mother Doria in Canada, as revealed last Saturday by the Mail.
The couple also missed the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. Harry and William split their households earlier this year following reports of a rift between them.
In a TV documentary, Harry said his relationship with his elder brother had ‘good days and bad days’, and they were ‘on different paths’.
Was Meghan Markle’s face PHOTOSHOPPED onto Christmas e-card? Experts say Duchess of Sussex’s face appears weirdly in focus in Archie snap while Prince Harry is blurry
The Duchess of Sussex’s face has been Photoshopped onto the family’s Christmas card, it was claimed today.
Meghan’s face appears significantly more in focus than that of Prince Harry in the picture, despite them both being roughly the same distance behind Archie.
Social media was abuzz overnight with people discussing whether the photo had been edited, with one saying: ‘Check out Meghan’s face, it is Photoshopped. Her face is clear and everything else is blurred. Archie’s is also photo shopped.’
Another tweeted: ‘This is quite possibly the worst Photoshopped picture I have ever seen. And again with the black and white.’
The black and white festive image shows Harry and Meghan sitting by a Christmas tree smiling as the seven-month-old gazes into the camera in the foreground.
ORIGINAL PICTURE — This photo was issued by @SussexRoyal of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Christmas card. Meghan’s face appears significantly more in focus than that of Prince Harry in the card picture, despite them both being roughly the same distance behind Archie
Following the comments on Twitter, MailOnline’s picture desk flattened out the shadows on Meghan’s face, which appears to show it was later added onto her body.
One possible reason is that the image of her face was taken in another similar photograph in the same shoot, and then added onto the picture they released.
MailOnline also spoke to Max Cisotti, a photographer since 1991 who has owned various celebrity selling agencies, who said: ‘Something’s not right.
‘It’s all to do with focal plane. Harry and Meghan are parallel, so if one is in focus, the other would be. They are side by side – it’s not like he’s further forward.
‘Her face (might have) been Photoshopped from another picture onto that. There are two lights on the baby’s face – in his left pupil there are two white reflections.
EDITED IMAGE — Research by MailOnline’s picture desk, which flattened out the shadows on Meghan’s face, appears to show it was later added onto her body
‘Then we look at the shadow on Meghan. Her left, you can’t really see the hairline and all that. All you can see is her face. So one of two things has potentially happened.
‘One, they deliberately out-of-focused everything, and then have just gone in and enhanced the detail just on her face – which would seem peculiar.
‘I would suggest her face has been Photoshopped from another picture, otherwise it would be out of focus. They are so far behind, everything else is out of focus.
‘So her face has either been superimposed or enhanced considerably. You cannot change the laws of physics, no matter who you are.’
The card was not officially released through any official royal channels, and first appeared on an unverified Twitter account called The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Initially shared as a moving Gif image, with the lights on the tree twinkling, the account said: ‘Just sharing the sweetest Christmas Card from our President and Vice-President, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Very Merry Christmas, everyone!’
It is believed that copies of the image, taken by the couple’s friend Janina Gavankar, were emailed to friends and staff on Monday and hard copies sent to family.
A spokesman for the Sussexes has confirmed the card’s authenticity. Harry and Meghan are currently spending a six-week break over the festive period in Canada.
Harry, Meghan and Archie in Cape Town on September 25 during their tour of South Africa
The duchess, a former actress, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits.
The couple were famously pictured together when Meghan joined her then-boyfriend Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games in the Canadian city.
The Sussexes are likely to have spent the US Thanksgiving celebrations, which this year fell on November 28, with the duchess’ mother Gloria Ragland.
It is already been revealed they will not be joining the Queen and other members of the Royal Family at Sandringham on Christmas Day, as they are taking a break.
The Queen is said to be supportive of the Sussexes’ plans and it follows the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s past decision to spend Christmas with Kate’s parents.