Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released a new portrait for their 2025 Christmas card, but one small detail has left some royal watchers puzzled.
A Festive Woodland Setting
The Duchess of Sussex posted the photo on Instagram over the weekend. It shows the family standing in a woodland setting, with Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, joining their parents.
Set against a fairytale-style backdrop, the family are pictured on a wooden bridge. Archie is seen hugging Prince Harry, 41, while Meghan, 44, bends down to hold hands with Lilibet.
“Happy Holidays! From our family to yours,” Meghan wrote in the caption.
Fans Spot Editing Issues
While many fans praised the image as adorable, others were quick to highlight what they described as a series of problems, including one detail that made the photo appear “photoshopped.”
“What happened with the editing? The back of Harry’s head is missing above the hairline,” one Reddit user commented.
“It looks like the tree branch is coming out of his head lol,” another joked.
“Looks like they used the stamp tool in Photoshop. The chunk of head floating above his head when you zoom in,” a third person added.
Questions Over Hiding the Children’s Faces
Beyond the alleged editing issue, one royal expert pointed out another “strange” detail that he said “doesn’t make sense.”
Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles, said he was confused by the Sussexes’ continued decision to hide their children’s faces.
“I find this year’s photo a bit strange,” Harrold told Express.co.uk.
“They don’t want to show their children’s faces, and I completely understand their choice to keep their children’s faces out of the spotlight. However, I think it just comes across a bit odd in this picture.
“Again, they’re kind of sitting in the middle. Why send out a photo of your children if you don’t want them to be seen? For me, it doesn’t make sense.”
Comparison with the Waleses’ Christmas Card
Harrold also said the Sussexes’ photograph stood in sharp contrast to the image featured on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ 2025 Christmas card.
“It’s a proud family photo. Their picture oozes confidence, while Meghan and Harry’s still looks a bit off in my opinion,” he told the outlet.
In the Wales family portrait, Prince William and Princess Catherine are pictured seated on a grassy bank filled with daffodils alongside their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas,” William and Kate, both 43, captioned their post.
Scrutiny Extends to the Waleses’ Photo
However, the Waleses’ Christmas card has also come under scrutiny, with some fans suggesting their image may have been edited as well.
“Kate looks like she was added in the photo. Her hand seems like she’s wearing a different shirt and isn’t even holding Prince George, it’s around something else,” one Reddit user claimed.
“Look at how long Kate’s arm would really have to be to actually hold her son like that. She looks like they badly photoshopped her in. Maybe I’m wrong but the photo is really messing with my head,” another added.
