Portrait of harmony WILLS & KATE'S GREATEST STRENGTH

It's there in black and white! The royal Christmas photo sends a clear message that this family is standing firm

- JUDY KEAN

It’s been a tough year, bookended by the release of two controversial publications that have rocked the royal family and painted the Prince and Princess of Wales, in particular, in a bad light.

But while some of the claims in Prince Harry’s memoir Spare and Omid Scobie’s book Endgame must have left William and Kate reeling, they’ve taken the motto “Keep calm and carry on” to heart, pushing aside personal dramas to focus on their dedication to duty and come out smiling. Despite the difficulties faced in 2023, their Christmas photo is a show of unity and a sign their family is thriving.

“We’re being shown the strength and total confidence of the pared-down family brand here, without all the trappings and trimmings of their royal status,” says body language expert Judi James.

Unusually, the pair have chosen a black-and-white shot for their Christmas card, which shows them posed in front of a blank background with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, fi ve. Taken at Windsor Castle by celebrity photographer Josh Shinner, it’s a departure from the colour images used in recent years, which have tended to feature outdoor settings.

Opting for black and white has been a controversial choice, with some royal commentators panning the photo for being “gloomy” and not very festive. But it has the seal of approval from others who say it’s a classy look. It has been pointed out that it bears a resemblance to a photo of William and Harry used by their mother Princess Diana in her 1992 Christmas card.