“I worked with Harry and William — and one strange detail in their Christmas photo stopped me in my tracks.” That’s the claim from Grant Harrold, who served as butler to King Charles III for seven years and worked closely with both Prince William and Prince Harry during his time inside the royal household. In an exclusive reflection, Harrold says a subtle but unusual detail in a recent Christmas photograph immediately caught his attention — something most viewers would likely miss, but which stood out to someone familiar with royal routines, body language, and long-standing traditions. According to him, the detail may quietly reveal more about family dynamics and behind-the-scenes realities than the polished image suggests. Having witnessed countless royal moments up close, Harrold believes small details often speak the loudest — especially during highly symbolic occasions like Christmas. 👉 Read his full insight and what he noticed in the first comment.

“However I find this year’s photo a bit strange. 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.”

Meghan and Harry have made a concerted effort to hide their children from the spotlight, which often sees them hiding their faces in photos and videos.

The snap is in “sharp contrast” to the one released by the Wales’ “very traditional” image, according to Grant. He continued: “It’s a proud family photo. Their picture oozes confidence, while Meghan and Harry’s still looks a bit off in my opinion.

“The only similarity between the photos is their choice of an outdoor setting. Again, this is very normal for royal Christmas cards, however I think it’s also symbolic as both families love being outside. Kate has spoken regularly about the benefits of spending time outdoors, and Meghan has also spoken of her love of being in her garden.”

Grant also noted a “sad difference” between the two brothers’ cards, given who he believes will receive them.

He added: “To my understanding, Kate and William’s Christmas card list still includes friends they’ve held close for years and years – I bet a lot of the names I knew from my time working with them are still on the list. However, Prince Harry has parted with so many of his friends so I doubt he’ll be in touch with them this Christmas.”