Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Christmas card shows Kate Middleton is ‘the backbone of the family’

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s family Christmas photo shows ‘tight family unity’ and that Kate Middleton is ‘the backbone’ of the family, a body language expert has claimed.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Judi James suggested Kate Middleton’s arm around daughter Charlotte’s waist shows a gesture of inclusion and protection – while Prince George’s smile shows his ‘shyness’ and ‘special bond with his father’.

A royal fan shared a picture of the family, believed to be taken at their Amner Hall residence in Norfolk, online, with a sweet message addressed to the NHS inside.

The sweet family snap, which shows the group sitting on haystacks in front of firewood, was shared by fan page Royalty 101, and has not been officially released by Kensington Palace. 

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The card is addressed ‘To all the amazing NHS staff,’ with the message: ‘Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year’.

Inside, there is a handwritten note from William, according to Hello.

He writes: ‘We can never thank you again for all the dedication and sacrifice you have had to make this year. We will be forever grateful.’ 

The shot is decidedly more festive than the family’s 2019 card, which saw the family pose with a vintage khaki-coloured motorbike, in a sunny setting.

Social media posts from the time showed the message inside the card, which read ‘Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year’ – and is signed in black pen by ‘Catherine’. 

FEMAIL spoke to body language expert Judi James about what the leaked image of the Cambridges shows: 

CLOSE FAMILY UNIT AND EARTHY TONES TO SHOW SIMPLE SURROUNDINGS

‘This pose signals the tightest family unit, with the earthy, woody tones of their background and outfits hinting that William and Kate might be happiest in the kind of natural, simple environment that they opted for when they were first married and went to live in Anglesey in simpler, non-sumptuous surroundings,’ she explained.

‘It suggests a lack of change from the couple since the idyllic and more private days of their marriage.

Social media posts from the time showed the message inside the card, which read ‘Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year’ – and is signed in black pen by ‘Catherine’. 

KATE IS ‘THE BACKBONE OF THE FAMILY’

‘The confident body language signals in this group pose come from one end, with both Kate and Charlotte sitting upright, throwing direct and almost (in Charlotte’s case) challenging eye-gazes at the camera. 

‘This level gaze looks the most royal, too. Kate looks like the undisputed backbone of the family unit,’ she added.

‘She has one brow raised at the outside edge in what looks like a gesture of ironic amusement, as though she gets that the photographer is pulling stunts to make the boys laugh. 

‘William seems to acknowledge that his wife is his rock here, leaning in towards her, wearing a smile that involves a tight top lip and puckering of the brows at the bridge of the nose to suggest suppressed delight at being supporter and back-seat protector of his family group.

CHARLOTTE MIRRORS HER MOTHER’S CONFIDENCE 

‘Charlotte mirrors that sense of adult irony by performing an asymmetric smile that pulls the mouth up at one corner, rather than the smile of childlike glee that little Louis is wearing.

‘Kate’s arm is around Charlotte’s waist in a gesture of inclusion and protection but, as we saw on the panto red carpet and as we can see here, this could well be the last time we see an increasingly independent-looking Charlotte appearing in need of any confidence-boosting tie-signs from her parents. 

‘Charlotte’s body language suggests she is very much her own person, sitting happily to the side of the pose with her hands and arms splayed to hint she’s getting keen to explore and have adventures by herself.

The shot is decidedly more festive than the family’s 2019 card, which saw the family pose with a vintage khaki-coloured motorbike, in a sunny setting 

GEORGE IS SHY AND ‘HAS A SPECIAL BOND WITH DAD’ 

‘George’s smile and his eye expression suggest a hint of shyness and he seems happiest posing near his dad. 

‘The pair seem to have a special bond that could be partly down to the way William is drawing on his own experiences as a future king to ensure his own eldest son will be comfortable with his own destiny. 

‘George places a hand on William’s arm to show he is still happy to enjoy the protection of his father that Charlotte seems to be already outgrowing.

LOUIS IS THE JOY OF THE FAMILY 

‘Little Louis always looks like the joy of the family, sitting happy and absorbed in everything that is going on. 

‘His open-mouthed laugh sees him yelling in delight and even though he is the smallest he already seems happy entertaining his parents and siblings.