If that Christmas card of William and Kate, Harry and Meghan, the tabloids wasted no time comparing them and understanding which was the perfect photo that conveys more closeness to people, solidarity, empathy, serenity, but in one point too flawless is considered from an aesthetic point of view. Everyone has been looking for a winner, but in reality personal taste has never played such a fundamental role as in this case. Both the Princes of Wales and the Sussexes have made small mistakes, perhaps out of a desire to do their best. It follows that none of the tickets are as natural as they might seem. A sin, let's say, of vanity, which also arises from the desire of the two competitors to pursue each other in an alleged, silent competition for popularity.
Too perfect?
An “untouchable family unit”, that would be the message of the Christmas card, according to body language expert Judi James Wilhelm And Kate. A black and white photo taken by Josh Shinner in Windsor and released on December 9th shows the princes and their children looking calm, happy and together. “…relaxed, confident body language feels like the emotional equivalent of having a moat and a drawbridge around it,” James clarified. The casual clothing would suggest her “strength and complete self-esteem without all the trappings of her royal status.” As if William and Kate wanted to prove that they were people like everyone else before becoming heirs to the throne.
However, Harry and Meghan's Christmas card is not a posed photo and is in color. The pair were immortalized last September during the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf and the image was released on December 15th. The Dukes laugh and applaud the US team's appearance on stage, set to the tune of Springsteen's “Born in The USA” and in all their glamour. For some, this is the perfect greeting card as it is more spontaneous than William and Kate's, although Princes Archie and Lilibet Diana are missing. To be honest, the term “spontaneity” should be used with some caution in both cases.
Where did Louis' finger go?
There is no doubt that William and Kate's Christmas photo is thought out down to the smallest detail. Maybe even too much, someone complains, pointing the finger at supposed excessive use of Photoshop. However, the retouching would not have been completely perfect: Kate's left leg appears to have disappeared, as does one of Prince Louis's little fingers. The youngest child in the house appears to have almost a kind of halo around his head, perhaps due to a reflection in the mirror. However, under royal family rules, it would not be possible to digitally edit the photos released by the royal press office. It is therefore unclear whether the retouching actually took place and who carried it out.
Kensington Palace has not commented on the matter, but according to Us Weekly, William and Kate were “as shocked as anyone” to discover the oddities visible in the shot, particularly Louis' missing finger. would have experienced. “How is it possible that the photographer didn't notice?” commented one user quoted by Page Six, who even noted the presence of an “extra leg” in the picture. One might also wonder whether the princes had a look at the end result. Still, most William and Kate fans liked the Christmas card: “It's a beautiful, simple, sophisticated family photo that many can relate to.” Exactly what the princes would want.
“A power couple”
If William and Kate's greeting card wants to convey a message of discretion, serenity and family solidarity, Harry and Meghan should help relaunch the brand Sussex. This, in addition to the parents' well-known desire to keep them out of the spotlight, may be the reason why Archie and Lilibet Diana are not in the photo. However, fans would not have appreciated this absence. One, quoted by the Sun, said: “It's not a family Christmas…” Another went further, accusing Meghan (not even so subtly) of protagonism: “There is no Archie and Lilibet…if they had been there they would have taken the spotlight away from Meghan and she can't let it happen.”
The Dukes' Christmas card would radiate a desire for recognition, a need for admiration and power. According to the Sun, body language expert Judi James said: “The song “Born in The USA” has a connection to politics and this professional pose with musical accompaniment reeks of success, celebration and fame. It's not a family Christmas message, it's not even [una foto] For a romantic couple, there is no romantic ritual of closeness or signals of connection and love. This is Harry and Meghan stunning, at their power couple best.”
“Political ambitions”
“They seem glamorous and their attitude correlates [comunica] shared goals and celebrating successes,” James continued about the card Harry And Meghan. “They have a crowd behind them and looking up to suggest the kind of motivational message they can use in a political arena. If Meghan is considering a political career, this could be the perfect pose to launch it. For years, the tabloids have repeatedly reported on the indiscretion that the Duchess was planning to ascend to the White House. For some it would be a chimera, given that Meghan currently does not have strong political support, let alone a program to present to potential voters.
It should also be stressed that the ongoing attacks on the royal family have damaged the popularity of the Sussexes and this could “burn” Meghan's possible candidacy from the start. However, James reiterated that the couple would “display a mix of great success and humility that is often seen in the political arena.” Still, Prince Harry's smile would appear “stiff” in contrast to his “bright” one. from Meghan, whose eyes shine “with satisfaction” and “optimism”.
An inappropriate link?
There's another reason for comparison (or conflict, depending on your point of view) between William and Kate's Christmas card and Harry and Meghan's. The princes sent the cards in their own names, or rather signed only as “Prince and Princess of Wales”. However, the Sussexes had chosen an even more formal and distant tone: “On behalf of the Office of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and the Archewell Foundation, we wish you a happy holiday.” Thank you for all the support [che ci avete dato] in 2023”.
Many people wonder whether the mention of… Archewell was necessary, almost as if the Dukes wanted to remind the public that their foundation still exists, even though the amount donated has reportedly dropped significantly. And not only that: In the ticket there is a link to the Archewell Impact Report, which reports on the humanitarian struggles of the Dukes. The impression is that Harry and Meghan want to flaunt their achievements and make us believe that they are more powerful, more creative, more active in the humanitarian field and more popular than they actually are.