The Sussex Family Christmas Card

[GreyPlayer]

Shared by Meghan on Instagram.

Meghan Shares the Sweetest Christmas Photo with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

The top of Harry’s head appears to be missing. I guess that could account for an awful lot.

😂😂😂

They seem to be such a disjointed family, even their published photos are so at odds with the image they try to impart. I don’t think they ‘walk the talk’ at all.

In the snippets of their family, which they themselves release, they seem so detached from each other, the kids never seem to engage with each other, and the parents seem to be of the divide and conquer, one parent for each kid, it comes across as a very sad family dynamic (to me at least).

Yes - Harry's head is really flat and oddly shaped while Archie seems to be floating.

The proportions seem off as well - from his stance Harry is closer to the edge of the bridge/camera yet looks further away than Lilibet.

I think that this is a composite picture made from several - I don't think that the 4 of them were photographed together. There are also several instances the infamous "white shadow" especially down Harry's neck that points to photoshopping/alteration.

I will just leave this here from a recent podcast.

I'm always reminded of catalogue models - four strangers who met half an hour ago and have been told they're going to be a family, and directed into a load of really cheesy 'happy family' poses. They just don't really seem to have much chemistry, either as a couple or with the children, and the children don't seem to have any relationship to one another at all. Obviously, with the weird poses and face-hiding shenanigans it's probably hard for them to act natural, but I find it really difficult to imagine these four people relaxing together as a family playing board games, watching movies, laughing over something silly etc. The whole dynamic is just a bit odd, like they're all paid actors pretending to be Harry's wife and kids... and they're not that good at it!

Little girls wear all sorts of clothes, socks, shoes, etc in the US. It's a massive country and very few children are slaves to fashion because most don't wear school uniform, so clothes are not something most children give two hoots about.

Most of the Christmas cards I get from friends and relatives here in the US feature photos of the family taken when it's clearly not winter.

Plus, there are many parts of the US where you could go swimming in the ocean in December, and have a backyard BBQ for your Christmas dinner. It gets "Christmassy" looking the further notlrth you go.

It looks naturally wavy and I will defend that because I spent my whole childhood being told mine was messy, it needed brushing, it needed fixing and sorting etc etc
mine is just curly, it’s not wrong. It’s just never going to be straight!
if you brush it, it looks ridiculous but people have this thing that you brush hair and it looks better. I don’t even own a brush now

this 👆

I agree. My daughter’s hair always liked unbrushed - 5 minutes after I brushed it.

And it suited her.

I had very long feet as a child and as an adult I take a uk size 10, a USA size 12, or a European size 44.

In fact it got to the stage when I was about 11 that my mum had to start buying me summer sandals from the boys section in Clarks. They always came in brown so she’d dye them one of the colours the girls sandals came in so I wasn’t laughed at for wearing boys sandals.

I’m absolutely no fan of Harry and Meghan, and suggesting a child’s feet have been photoshopped is ludicrous.

And her hair? She suits it.

Where are you getting g the laugh emoji? I want to use it!

Now I seem to recall cries of children being off limits in my other thread. Oh my my.

@Raisondeetre

See the attached photos about smiling emojis.
In the bottom right corner of the message box there is a smiley face. Tap it and you will open lots of emojis. Or you can use your own emojis from your keyboard. This may be on the mobile app only, though. Good luck and Merry Christmas 🎄

I don't get why people critique these 2 the way they do? And I also don't get the obsession with wanting to see their children's faces? Earlier today there was a post on here about a woman videoing her child's nativity and a chorus of "omg what if you film another child who can't be filmed" etc then lots of parents chimed in they don't share images of their children, this was the majority reply. Yet here we have 2 people who the public and media appear obsessed with critiquing their every move and they've made the choice to keep their children out that circus, good, yet it is always brought up. They aren't showing their faces yet there are still comments here on a 4 year olds hair and even her feet? Would you do that to other 4 year olds?

We can bet if his brother shared the exact same image the replies would be fawning over it. His brother has to share images and parade his children around as it's all part of the "job", harry doesn't and has chosen a different path. I don't actually like or agree with any royal family, no one should be bowed to just because they were born into a particular family, but the obsession and critiquing of harry and his family is bizarre. You don't personally know this man, there's no need to pass comment on him or his family.

I joked on the other Christmas card thread that it was a shame we always get the royal 'summer' shots and it would be fun to see the Wales family in matching PJs in front of a Christmas tree for the card.

The Sussexes have really missed a trick by not doing that. They have no rules, they actually have no reason to release an 'official' card at all. But if it were me I would go all in on a full-on proper 'regular people' family Christmas card. Include Doria - have everyone in coordinated Christmas jumpers. Hot chocolate with marshmallows. Do what the royals feel they can't do. Show the seasonal fun.

Oh rubbish 😂. My daughter had very similar hair at that age and it looked tatty ten minutes after being brushed!

No comment at all from me on the children’s appearance. There are plenty of photos of me as a child wearing dubious outfits and with scruffy hair 😂 I don’t think it matters they’re not perfectly coiffed.

But I do think it’s a really odd photo.

The dynamic is strange - two very separate pairings in the image. There’s no sense of family dynamic, it feels very separated. I don’t think it is, but it almost feels like two photos spliced together.

If you split the photo in half, Harry and Archie actually make a lovely pair. Harry is tweaking Archie’s nose and Archie has his arms flung around him. It’s spontaneous and feels very natural.

The other half of the photo between Meghan and Lili isn’t as good. Firstly, there’s the issue of Meghan’s transparent dress which draws the eye away from what should be the focus of the photo. Aside from that, it’s just a bit crass and tasteless, especially when you’re posing with your children.

The other issue is that the pose between Meghan and Lili seems awkward and forced. Meghan is pushing her face right at Lili and based on the body positions, Lili doesn’t appear to be reciprocating or engaging. Also, if you look at the hands, Meghan has grabbed Lili’s hands. Maybe Lili doesn’t like photos or was just caught off guard, but there’s no warmth or love. Due to Lili’s body language, Meghan looks performative, as if she’s trying to force the mood and not getting anything back. I mean, lots of us have been there as parents when a young child is oblivious to the occasion and refuses to do what’s required to get a decent photo 😂😂😂 So I can sympathise there - but then I wouldn’t release the photo…..

I can only assume Meghan is happy with this image. And that seems even more bizarre!!

Their official Christmas card with just the two of them in Canada is great. This one, not so much.

I’ve attached the two different parts of the photo to try and show what I mean. There’s such a different feel to Meghan’s side compared to Harry’s. If Meghan wasn’t determinedly grinning at Lili it wouldn’t be hard to believe that it was a photo of a child being scolded!

Its not a Christmas card, it's a beautiful family photo that she shared. Didn't even notice the little ones hair, but assume she hasn't just stepped out of a makeup chair for this photo and there was some running and playing around before it was taken.

If someone was shown this photo with no clue who it was, there wouldn't be a negative thing to say. If anyone was looking at any single persons life to find reasons to hate, they would find negativity in places there shouldn't be. Such a hateful country we have now. I'm not a fan of their's, nore do I dislike them. I'm not bothered about most celebrities. But don't blame them for wanting out of this country and the royal family

If someone was shown this photo with no clue who it was, there wouldn't be a negative thing to say.

Well, I would still point out that wearing a see-through, split-sided dress and sticking your arse out isn't a good look for a festive family photo, but I am pretty old fashioned and maybe that's just the modern way.

And Harry's hair still looks strange.

it is not a christmas card

the fact that the card says Happy Holiday season is shocking to me

I think it’s fine. A bit ‘different’ for a Christmas card but each to their own.