Story Behind Kate Middleton’s Adorable Family Holiday Photo
Just in time for the holidays, the royal family has released a new photo that features the foursome outside Kensington Palace.
The image, in which 2-year-old Prince George wears blue shorts and a sweater while 6-month-old Princess Charlotte sits on her mom’s lap in a dress and a pink sweater and tights (the same dress she was photographed wearing in previously released shots), was taken in October and tweeted by Kensington Palace Friday morning. The caption reads, “A new family photo — Merry Christmas from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.”
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While many are reporting that the photo was sent out as the royal family’s holiday card, Kensington Palace simply calls it “a new photograph of their family,” noting that Prince William and the duchess are looking forward to their first Christmas as a family of four.
Especially excited about the upcoming holiday is the couple’s young son. “George will be bouncing around like a rabbit,” William told Big Issue magazine in an interview released earlier this month. “I think George will be extremely bouncy this year because he’s suddenly worked out what Christmas is all about. If I get any sleep on Christmas Eve, it’ll be good.”
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Photographer Chris Jelf, who captured the latest image, noted that Prince George was similarly busy during their photo shoot. “I thoroughly enjoyed photographing a very lovely family, although you have to be sharp as you don’t have long when there are two young children involved!” he said in a statement released by Kensington Palace. “I hope everyone enjoys this photo and I am honored that the duke and duchess have decided to share it with the public.”
Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk, where Prince George will begin in January. (Photo: AP Images)
The adorable image seems to perfectly capture life with two kids: a doting Prince William watches his son and a smiling Kate holds her daughter, who is wearing only one shoe — the other is lying on the ground in front of them. In his interview with Big Issue, William admitted the holiday could get hectic. “That will be two children, one who suddenly appreciates Christmas, which could be quite challenging. But I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “We’ll go to church as a family on Christmas Day, as we always do. Then we’ll watch George try to tackle his presents as he tries to unwrap them. It’s a very different experience at Christmas, having a family of your own.”
Once the holiday is over, Prince George will have another exciting milestone on the horizon. Kensington Palace announced Friday morning that the toddler will be starting school in the new year. “Prince George will begin to attend the Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk before the end of January,” palace officials said in a statement. According to the BBC, the nursery school, which is located on a private road quite close to the family’s home, Anmer Hall, costs $49.15 a day. George will follow in a tradition started by his father, the BBC reports, as William was the first royal to attend nursery school rather than beginning his education in the palace.
“We are looking forward to welcoming George to our nursery, where he will get the same special experience as all of our children,” school officials said in a statement.
The royal family has requested for continued respect of their son’s privacy as he starts school, and also asked the media to respect the privacy of the school staff, students, and students’ families.
(Top photo: Chris Jelf/Kensington Palace via AP Images)
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