As Christmas cards go, they could not be more different.
The royal family have shared their Christmas card photos for 2023 via social media.
One bears a casual, contemporary look while the other is a more formal affair — and might I say, filled with bling.
In one image, the King and Queen Camilla are wearing their robes and crowns in Buckingham Palace’s throne room on May 6.
In the other, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family smile for the camera, dressed in casual pants and open-necked shirts.
The monochrome image shows William, Kate and their children Prince George (10) and Prince Louis (five) arranged around Princess Charlotte (eight) sitting on a chair.
The photo was taken by photographer Josh Shinner at Windsor earlier this year — the family of five moved their primary residence from London to Windsor in 2022.
It is also reminiscent of cards in years gone by, particularly those curated by William’s mother, Diana.
The photo amassed a number of comments from fans, some filled with praise while others were disappointed with the lack of festive detail.
“What a joyful picture” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“It’s an amazing photo and they all look gorgeous…but this doesn’t look like a Christmas card,” another said.
Loading Instagram content
The King and Queen also shared their holiday card.
In it, King Charles wears the Imperial State Crown, while Camilla wears Queen Mary’s Crown; the King is also pictured wearing a coronation tunic and the robe of estate.
“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New year,” the inscription reads.
The image — taken on the day of the coronation — is the couple’s second Christmas card since Charles became King.
Senior royals regularly release Christmas images used to decorate official festive cards that are sent to friends, family and colleagues.
The family’s Christmas card comes on the tail of journalist Omid Scobie’s tell-all book which, due to a misprint, identified two royals said to have made racially insensitive remarks about the skin tone of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie prior to his birth in 2019.
Neither King Charles, Middleton, or William have publicly addressed the book’s claims.