Topics: Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Markle, Christmas, Royal Family
Following the release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2024 Christmas card, his brother Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton released their own on social media - but it was 'deleted' minutes later.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, shared their own virtual well wishes just two days after the Sussexes released theirs - a move which is usually reserved for Christmas day.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted for a collage of six photos which featured the couple taking part in various charitable endeavours, including their trip to Colombia, as well as a picture of them playing with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The relationship between the four royals has been reported as tense, with the brothers having reportedly been estranged since Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020, before relocating to Los Angeles.
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Meghan and Harry's card used their royal titles, and included the message: "On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we wish you a very happy holiday season, and a joyful new year."
However, Kate and William opted for a single photo of themselves and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, which had previously been used in a video released to mark Kate's completion of chemotherapy.
The Wales' card read: "Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas."
However, when it was first uploaded yesterday (19 December), it was reportedly deleted just minutes later, and then re-uploaded.
The second card featured a small tweak - a slight zoom-in on the family photo. The message remained the same, and there was animated snow falling.
Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas 🎄 pic.twitter.com/pL3t13sTlu
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2024
The photograph used was snapped by Will Warr in Norfolk, at the family's country estate, Anmer Hall.
Following Kate's announcement in September that she is now cancer-free, the 42-year-old Princess shared a video of the family at the estate.
She attached an emotional statement, which included: "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant, and we’ve had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."
Speaking to Tyla on behalf of Slingo, Grant Harrold - who previously served in Buckingham Palace as a butler to King Charles III - gave his opinion on Harry and Meghan's card.
He said: "A traditional royal Christmas card we’ve seen from the King or the Princess of Wales is normally just a photograph.
"Since I’ve been working with the Royal family, it’s always been quite simple with one photograph. Harry and Meghan’s card this year is very different. It’s more of a montage.
"[This] isn’t the correct thing to do. It’s not very Royal."
