The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family are wishing everyone a happy holiday with their new 2024 Christmas card photo – and it’s a break from recent royal tradition.

Kate Middleton and Prince William revealed their Christmas card in a post on Instagram on December 19, writing, “Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas 🎄.” The post is a short video of the Christmas card lying on a table with a sparkling Christmas tree behind it and artificial snow sprinkled across the map. The picture on the card is a snapshot from this summer and shows William and Middleton sitting outside with their three children. Princess Charlotte, 9, sits next to her mother, one arm around her mother and the other around her older brother Prince George, 11. Prince Louis, 6, sits on the other side of William and the whole family looks happy (and sun-kissed! ) while smiling at the camera.

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Unlike previous years where the royals shared a never-before-seen family photo, this time they opted for a poignant photo that we published have seen before: a picture of the family of five from a video shared in September that marked the end of Middleton’s chemotherapy.

“As summer comes to an end, I can’t tell you what a relief it is to finally have completed my chemotherapy,” Middleton wrote at the time. “The last nine months have been incredibly hard for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and unknown roads.”

In the lengthy message, Middleton added: “Above all, this time has reminded William and me to reflect on and be grateful for the simple but important things in life that so many of us often take for granted. “Just to love and to be loved.”

The fact that Middleton chose this photo as a highlight proves that she is reflecting on the tumultuous past year and family is at the forefront of her mind.

The fans also noticed this. “Beautiful picture on this year’s Christmas card 😍😍 Merry Christmas to the entire Wales family! I love you all 🎄❤️❤️❤️❤️,” one person commented. Someone else wrote: “This Christmas card is absolutely wonderful and the cutest! Wishing you a Merry Christmas 🤍🎄”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also shared their Christmas card this week, which features a snapshot of Prince Archie (5) and Princess Lilibet (3). In this picture, the Sussexes sit with their arms open as their red-headed children run toward them in a driveway with their dogs. “On behalf of the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and the Archewell Foundation, we wish you a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year,” the card reads.

With all the holiday cheer, insiders believe this could be the time when the Waleses and the Sussexes get over their anger. Royal insider Grant Harrold, King Charles III’s former butler, recently said this GB News“I think Catherine will reach out to Harry and Meghan and wish them a Merry Christmas, and I think Harry and Meghan themselves may reach out.” The thing about Christmas is that it’s about goodwill towards others, about being to leave the past behind, forget the past and start the new year.”

He predicts that families will grow closer together in 2025, adding: “I feel like that is the case. I really believe that, but that’s just my personal feeling.”

Only time will tell!

Even royal children love to be read to! Here are some of her favorites.

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