4 hidden details you may have missed in Kate Middleton and Prince William's 2021 Christmas card
- Prince William and Kate Middleton have shared their 2021 Christmas card.
- The photo, featuring their three children, is from a family visit to Jordan earlier this year.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2021 family Christmas card features a photo with a few hidden details.
The picture, which was distributed to the press and shared on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Instagram account on December 10, shows the couple with their children, Prince George (age 8), Princess Charlotte (age 6), and Prince Louis (age 3), during a visit to Jordan earlier this year, according to a press release from Kensington Palace.
Here are some things you may have missed in the image.
William and Middleton are showing a rare public display of affection
William and Middleton usually refrain from PDA when they're at events or representing the British monarchy in an official capacity as it goes against standards of royal etiquette. In the family Christmas card, however, they can be seen with their hands resting on each other's knees.
Increasingly, the couple has been showing affection towards each other in public, with some suggesting the change was inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Cambridges have also brought a more relaxed approach to their Christmas card photos in recent years. In 2020, they shared another sweet portrait of their family smiling together.
The location of the photo holds special meaning for the Middleton family
Middleton spent time in Jordan as a child — her father Michael worked for British Airways and moved the family to Amman, Jordan, from 1984 to 1986. The family Christmas card marks a sweet full-circle moment, returning to Jordan with children of her own.
William is wearing shorts, an unusually casual outfit for the future king
William has worn shorts before to athletic royal engagements, but it's rare for the public to see him dressed so casually in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
The palace's press release did not elaborate on when the trip took place or its nature, but a People magazine report citing representatives for Kensington Palace suggests the photo was taken on a private family vacation, which would explain the prince's informal attire.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis appear to be wearing matching shoes
The family's outfits are well-coordinated for the photo. William, Middleton, and George are all wearing slightly different shades of green, while William and his two sons are wearing polo shirts.
Charlotte and Louis are both wearing blue outfits, but it seems that their coordination extends even to their footwear: They are wearing matching blue sneakers.