A new and previously leaked royal Christmas photo of the Cambridges that was shared on social media, is now officially released by Kensington Palace as Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s 2020 holiday card.
The Cambridge family photo quickly gathered thousands of likes and comments after being shared in a fan group for the royal family on Facebook.
It has since been shared more widely across the social media network, and on other platforms, including Instagram, and received praises from royal fans.
In the photo, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are sitting next to each other, joined by their three children — Prince George sitting on his father’s lap, Princess Charlotte on her mother’s lap, and Prince Louis in the middle.
The royal children have gained much attention over the years for their adorable behavior and attitude in public, such as refusing to hold their parents’ hands and sticking their tongues out at crowds.
And this time is no different, with Prince Louis’s beaming smile and Princess Charlotte’s cheeky grin thrilling royal fans all over the world.
It is unknown when the picture was taken, but the winter jumpers worn by all five members of the Cambridge family suggest it is a recent photo.
For most of this year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children have been living at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Over the last few months, the Duchess of Cambridge brought more delight to royal fans by sharing several family photos that she had taken herself during key moments — such as her children’s birthdays.
A friend of Kate spoke to PEOPLE and revealed some surprising details. The royal insider said she is a regular mom with a messy home, walks around with a ponytail, and yells at her children when they misbehave.
The person shared: “It’s a normal, busy family home with kids running around and knocking things over. There’s no airs and graces; when you see her behind closed doors with the children, she’s a very confident mom, and she’s no pushover. The children get told off if they act up.”
The family friend went on to explain: “It’s a normal, busy family home with kids running around and knocking things over. There’s no airs and graces. She is doing that to help her children be more grounded and keep their reality in check. That’s what really matters to her.”
The new Christmas photo, which specifically pays tribute to hospital workers, follows a string of other festive images over the years.
Last year, the royal Christmas card showed the family posing together outdoors wearing coordinated blue clothing, with a much younger-looking Prince Louis, who was just one year old at the time.
