The heartwarming image shows Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis sitting on rocks during their trip earlier that year, all beaming at the camera
The Cambridges delighted royal fans with their 2021 Christmas card, featuring a previously unseen photograph from a sunny family holiday in Jordan.
The heartwarming image shows Kate, William, George, Charlotte, and Louis sitting on rocks during their trip earlier that year, all beaming at the camera. In a rare public display of affection, William and Kate are seen with their hands gently resting on each other’s knees, adding to the sentimental nature of the photograph.
However, this picture holds more than just family charm – it also signifies a promise Prince William made to Kate in 2018. Their choice of Jordan for this special family moment is a nod to Kate’s personal history, as the Middletons lived in the country for three years when her father, Michael, worked as a British Airways pilot. The family has often spoken fondly of their time in Jordan and shared photos from their stay in the 1980s.
In 2018, Prince William visited Jordan during a five-day tour of the Middle East, but Kate was unable to accompany him due to her maternity leave after the birth of Prince Louis. William revealed that Kate was “very upset” to miss the trip, as she had been eager to revisit a place so meaningful to her childhood. During his visit to Jerash, a stunning archaeological site that Kate had visited with her family as a young girl, William made a touching gesture for his wife.
While the Middleton family lived in Jordan, they had visited the ancient ruins of a Roman city from the first century and posed for a family photo. The picture shows a young Kate sitting on a wall with her father, Michael, and her sister, Pippa. As Kate couldn’t be there to recreate the moment herself, William decided to do it for her. Wearing beige trousers and a blue blazer, he smiled for the camera in front of the historic site, but felt it wasn’t quite enough. He made a promise, saying, “need to come back with the family for this shot.”
In 2021, it appears that Prince William kept his word. Although the family didn’t release a recreated version of the original Middleton photograph, their Christmas card captures the beauty of Jordan perfectly. The sun-soaked backdrop frames a relaxed and joyful family moment, with George and Charlotte sitting beside their parents, and little Louis cross-legged in front of his mother. Dressed casually, Kate wears a flowing khaki dress, William opts for shorts, while the children sport summer outfits. In a tweet, Kensington Palace shared the festive image with the caption: “Delighted to share a new image of the family, which features on this year’s Christmas card.”
