16 December 2023 , 23:00
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Tis the season for that most iconic festive event, the Royal festive Christmas card. This year’s offering features The Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children looking relaxed and happy striking black and white.
The pic is the Wales family’s holiday snap for this year and was released over the weekend on the @KensingtonRoyal Twitter account. The yuletide greeting is the product of a collaboration with photographer Josh Shinner - his first time shooting the family. The composition shows a smiling Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis in black and white on a blank background.
The photo is notable as a change from the usual candid colour shots the family has used for past holiday greetings snaps. Despite the pressure of shooting the nation’s most famous family, Shinner said it had been a “relaxed and enjoyable” affair. In a post on Instagram the photographer revealed how the shoot had gone.
Photographer Josh Shinner sketched out thet composition ahead of time (Josh Shinner)He said: “It was such a pleasure to photograph The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family for the Christmas portrait this year,” he wrote alongside a post of the family photo. Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I’ve ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…”
However when asked what the jokes were, Shinner remained tight-lipped, refusing to give away details of the banter he shared with the young royals. “Keeping those to myself I'm afraid!” he wrote in response to a curious commenter.
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The snapper also shared a sketch of the family he had made while trying to work out what poses fit best for the composition. “This was the starting point for the final composition,” he wrote alongside the image.
The final shot, which differs only slightly from Shinner's initial vision, has been compared by some to an advert for Gap from the 90s - with the combo of casual jeans, button-up shirts and trainers snapped in black and white. It was shared by the Wales' on social media on Saturday evening.