William and Kate reveal Christmas card featuring royal children

The Prince and Princess of Wales have revealed their Christmas card after a difficult year for the Royal Family.

Prince William has described 2024 as the hardest year of his life after his wife Kate and his father, King Charles, were both treated for cancer.

The picture on the front of the card, which was posted on the couple's social media channels at 2pm, comes from the heartfelt video about her health released by the Princess of Wales in September.

It features the couple and their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - in Norfolk.

The unveiling of the Christmas card comes after the couple skipped the traditional Royal Family pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

They are already in Norfolk, as had been planned, and are looking forward to spending time with the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham over Christmas, a royal source said.

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The Buckingham Palace lunch is a private event for senior royals and their wider family who won't be at the Christmas celebrations at the King's Norfolk home.

Prince Andrew decided not to attend the gathering after speaking to his ex-wife and close friend Sarah, Duchess of York, according to a source, amid continuing speculation over his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

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Meanwhile, on Monday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a rare image of their children in their Christmas card.

It includes a heartwarming photo of Archie and Lilibet running into their arms during a family outing.

Prince Harry and Meghan, who continue to live in the US, have been careful not to expose their children to the limelight, and the photo does not include the faces of five-year-old Archie and Lilibet, three.

The Sussexes will send a different card to close family and friends which has not been made public.

(c) Sky News 2024: William and Kate reveal Christmas card featuring royal children