to think William and Kate's Christmascard this year was badly judged?

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

So not only has William been hectoring us about climate change and sustainable travel, but there's been a pandemic which has been a pandemic which for many people has been financially devastating, and for most of us a holiday seems a distant pipe dream. So this year of all years they have chosen a photo of themselves all looking tanned and relaxed on a (presumably free) holiday. Just feels a tad ill judged?

To get rid of the royal family (not Russia style now) all you need is a few good and determined people.

That very handsome historian did a great documentary about how slave ownership actually came to be abolished (which came after human trafficking was abolished). You can find it on iplayer -
But my point is that a small number of people (paid employees) devised and delivered a means to that end and in fact founded the British civil service in doing so.

For enormous swathes of the Commonwealth Christmas is not actually signified by snow and robins.

Thought it was an I'm a Celebrity shot. 🤣
Just curious about Kate's long sleeve super love. Looks odd in this shot , any particular reason?

They can't win whatever they do!!! I can't get worked up over this.... they went on holiday when it was permitted and took a nice family photo

I agree. I'm pretty sure they don't need MN approval to either have a holiday or have a nice family photo taken - and I'm pretty sure many on MN have done the same themselves. Maybe they would like to put theirs up for us all to critique? Honestly the envy always comes out on these threads. Get over yourselves and concentrate on your own lives.

YYY to 'huge golden shite', and is that an animal skin on the ground?

I think it's a really weird photo - location, facial expressions, hairy legs, strange seating, no hint apart from the formality and lack of self awareness that this family will one day occupy Buckingham Palace.

This photo wasn't taken anywhere in the Commonwealth, @StartupRepair.

I know that @mathanxiety just observing that William may end up ruling over many people who do not think Christmas is synonymous with robins and snow. People who may have a different understanding of a 'proper Christmas'.

Well Barbados has recently dropped out. It may well be that this will become a trend.

@JumparooSavedMyLife

Didn't they go to Greece in half term too? Our 1 and only holiday abroad this year was cancelled again, we haven't been abroad since 2019. They're pretty tone deaf really arent they? I mean I've still not worked out what purpose these people serve? Why we must have their holiday snap rubbed in our faces I'm not sure? Some Christmas hats on stood in their garden would have been far better, if they must!

@JumparooSavedMyLife I hope you're being sarcastic! Most people never get the chance to go overseas even once. It's the domain of the rich, or at least middle-upper class.

I agree - we have not been on holiday for over two years and and desperate to get some sun. An english photo would have been better in this current climate.

I don't like this couple at all (Team Harry and Meghan all the way, sorry!) but I see nothing at all wrong with this card, other than Kate's scary macabre-like grin. There is no rule all Christmas cards must be Christmassy, and I for one being sick of boring traditional Christmassy overload schmuck that is the Christmas card fare, appreciate something different. And regardless of the debate about how far Jordan is from Bethlehem, it's still in the middle east. So, imo? It counts. And is thus probably more true Christmassy than the schmultzy snow or Christmas tree or Santa.

I really like that William is breaking with tradition and wearing shorts. I always thought it weird that from a certain age, the men weren't allowed to wear shorts and had to wear long trousers. Very strange. So I like this.

I think the Charles & Camilla pic was quite sweet.
More fitting with wearing masks etc (although I do find it strange that the Royals carry out some engagements mask free but can only assume everyone tests before they turn up).

Obviously I was pissed off when they travelled from London to Scotland at the start of 2020's Lockdown #1, ignoring travel advice that applied to the rest of us,

Plus Camilla visiting Cheltenham 2020 Ladies Day was equally ill-advised (but no different to the football match in Liverpool v Atletico Madrid which took place around the same time).

However Charles having Covid & Camilla not having Covid showed us how one partner can test positive & the other test negative despite close contact, bizarre how it might seem!

God I hope more countries drop out of the Commonwealth.

Think the royals appeal to an older generation who grew up with a sense of reverence for the Queen. Today’s younger generations couldn’t give a stuff.

@Roussette

Nancy I suppose it depends if you're religious? Or not.

For most people Christmas is snow, robins, christmas trees, cold and frost.
Not shorts and gold poos to sit on lol

@Roussette I'm in Australia and here Christmas is scorching heat (anywhere from 32 deg to 37, occasionally more), humidity, flies, the beach, bikinis, prawns and seafood for Christmas and running under the hose/backyard pool in the afternoon if not near a beach. Since Jesus was born in the hot middle east, in similar/worse weather than Australia, the traditional northern hemisphere of snowy Christmasses doesn't really even make any sense.

maybe they were being green and not having lots od plasticy tinsel tat?
Just ask them to remove you from their CHristmas Card list.

Not a fan of the card, I like Prince Charles and Camilla's much more in touch.

I'm pretty sure they don't need MN approval to either have a holiday or have a nice family photo taken - and I'm pretty sure many on MN have done the same themselves. Maybe they would like to put theirs up for us all to critique? Honestly the envy always comes out on these threads. Get over yourselves and concentrate on your own lives

You think criticism is only from envy & the equivalent would be my non RF family having my xmas card critiqued? And people should just ignore the RF exist & not have opinions on them?
I genuinely don't understand this thinking.

Maybe they promised to do a bit for tourism in Jordan (which is no doubt severely affected by Covid) in return for them buying lots of stuff imported from the UK

Another photo in the English countryside and they'd be criticised for being boring or for not taking their dc anywhere interesting

They really wouldn't.

It’s not my favourite card of theirs, though Charlotte looks lovely, as it’s not very Christmassy in feel.

But what’s the problem with men having hairy legs? Please tell me that William isn’t supposed to shave them?

@ClaudiaJ1

I don't like this couple at all (Team Harry and Meghan all the way, sorry!) but I see nothing at all wrong with this card, other than Kate's scary macabre-like grin. There is no rule all Christmas cards must be Christmassy, and I for one being sick of boring traditional Christmassy overload schmuck that is the Christmas card fare, appreciate something different. And regardless of the debate about how far Jordan is from Bethlehem, it's still in the middle east. So, imo? It counts. And is thus probably more true Christmassy than the schmultzy snow or Christmas tree or Santa.

I really like that William is breaking with tradition and wearing shorts. I always thought it weird that from a certain age, the men weren't allowed to wear shorts and had to wear long trousers. Very strange. So I like this.

Where’s this rule from? All the men in my family wear shorts when the weather is warm? Not to work, but at home and almost everywhere else.

Why the stress of them being on holiday?

Holidays have been allowed for everyone in England for most of the year, holidays abroad were allowed for a lot of last year.

They're a wealthy family. Their income won't have been affected by covid. A lot of people's with have been, even those not in wealthy families or Hugh paying roles.

I know a lot of people who have been in holiday abroad over the last two years. Most are not high earners.

Re the non Christmassy picture. They never are in the royal cards iirr, not sure why not

maybe they were being green and not having lots od plasticy tinsel tat?

You think flying to Jordan (probably privately) is better for the environment than a few Christmas decorations?

God help us all

They never sent me one.