All the Portraits of the Royal Children Over the Years

For fans of all things monarchial, a royal portrait release is an exciting time. Any Windsor family moment is a fascinating one, and royal children snapshots always promote a frenzy—of George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie, and Lilibet—since they aren’t seen at events quite as often as their parents. One we particularly look forward to every year? The Wales’s family Christmas portrait.

This latest picture, released by Kensington Palace, captures William, Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at their grounds in Norfolk. The photograph was taken back in April by photographer Josh Shinner. (The same photographer who captured the family’s first official Christmas card snap in 2023.) The smiley quintet sit on the grass among daffodils—a fitting tribute within the tableau, as the flower is the national emblem for Wales. We see seven-year-old Louis, the third and youngest child with his adorable tooth-gap grin, 10-year-old Charlotte hugging her father close, and 12-year-old George looking every bit of a young William, Kate’s arm encircling him. The family coordinate in bottle-green sweaters and denim, while Kate wears a brown knit and checked skirt.

“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas,” the caption on the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales reads. The picture appears to be from the same photoshoot for George’s 12th birthday in July and Louis’s seventh birthday back in April, as well as a photo of William with the children, which was released on Father’s Day.

The three Wales children are photographed for major milestones they experience along the year, whether it be for their birthday festivities or christening. The photos are often taken by mother, Kate Middleton herself, though a variety of photographers like Shinner capture these full family moments.

Other portraits over the years have captured the royal children welcoming their new siblings home or slipping on their backpacks for their first day at nursery or school. The family’s yearly Christmas card is a not-to-be-missed event, and always ranges in setting and style. 2020 saw the Wales family in countryside casual, posed in front of a log pile. In 2024, a poignant still from the personal video Kate released upon completing chemotherapy was their choice of Christmas greeting.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stepped down from royal life, they still share some details about their children. For Archie’s first birthday, they posted an Instagram video of the Duchess reading to their baby son, to raise awareness for charity.

Below, see all of the children’s portraits over the years.