At first glance, the image appeared wholesome and relaxed. But viewers quickly began to question whether everything in the frame was quite right. Many noticed that the family seemed unusually sharp compared to the background, which appeared softer and slightly mismatched in focus. This led to speculation that the figures may have been edited into the scene rather than photographed together in one moment.
Online comments questioned whether the family had even been together when the image was captured, with some suggesting it looked more like a composite than a candid family portrait. Kensington Palace did not respond publicly to the claims, but the debate lingered for weeks.
Meghan and Harry’s festive message draws scrutiny
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also faced criticism over their holiday imagery. Their Christmas greeting was released as part of a video rather than a single photo, accompanied by a message wishing followers joy for the season on behalf of their office and Archewell.