William and Kate release new family photo chosen for royals’ Christmas card

The Prince and Princess of Wales have chosen a black-and-white family photograph as their official Christmas card image.

In the monochrome picture, a smiling William and Kate are stood with sons Prince George and Prince Louis around a chair where a beaming Princess Charlotte is sitting with her legs crossed.

The five royals are dressed casually in similar light-coloured shirts in the image, which will feature on the official festive cards that will be sent to friends, family members and colleagues.

The Prince of Wales has his hand on five-year-old Louis’ shoulder, while Kate has her arm around 10-year-old George’s waist in the photograph, which was taken in Windsor earlier this year.

It was captured by Yorkshire-born photographer Josh Shinner whose previous sitters include English actors Florence Pugh and Jodie Comer as well as singer Sam Smith.

Senior royals regularly release images used to decorate their official Christmas cards.

For theirs, the King and Queen picked a more colourful photograph taken at Buckingham Palace on the day of the coronation showing them side-by-side in the palace throne room.

Photographer Hugo Burnand captured the King wearing a coronation tunic and the robe of estate, which was worn by King George VI in 1937 and is made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold.

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On the King’s head sits the Imperial State Crown, while the Queen is wearing Queen Mary’s Crown and her robe of estate, made by Ede and Ravenscroft and designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.

She is also wearing her coronation dress designed by Bruce Oldfield in the image, which has been chosen for the second Christmas card since the King ascended to the throne.

The King and Queen’s card this year features the simple festive message: “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”

The crowning of the royal couple earlier this year, and the deeply religious ceremony in Westminster Abbey, brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from around the world and celebrities, along with family and friends.