Prince William and Kate Middleton released to the public on Saturday the family photo they will use for their 2023 Christmas card.

The Prince and Princess of Wales chose a professionally taken photo done in a studio over the more candid type of shot they have used in previous years.

The black-and-white photo taken by Josh Shinner depicted William and Kate with their three children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

Charlotte is flanked by her brothers and sits on a chair with her parents standing above their brood, each with an arm around one of the boys.

A big move

Kate and Charlotte are wearing jeans in the photo, while William and George are wearing matching slacks and Louis sports shorts. Charlotte and Louis are both wearing canvas sneakers while the rest of the family wear dark-colored shoes.

Everyone in the family is wearing a matching light-colored button-down shirt, and all are smiling to some degree except George, who wears a pleasant but neutral expression.

The family moved from London to Windsor last year, but it was not clear whether that had anything to do with the photo's composition.

It was a significant year marked by the coronation of William's father, now King Charles III, on May 6. George served as a Page of Honor during the coronation, the first successor to the throne to do so.

More casual last year

Last year's card was casual and colorful, depicting the family walking in Norfolk near their country home at Anmer Hall. It is the third Christmas card photo in recent years to be taken there.

The family spends school breaks, holidays, and some weekends there, and it is reportedly Kate's favorite place to spend time.

It's possible that William is feeling the weight of being the first-in-line successor to the throne and felt that a more formal photo was appropriate.

The family recently attended Princess Kate's third annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, which she started to highlight how individuals and organizations supported their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harry and Meghan's reaction

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not have an official reaction to the photo's release.

They are currently living in Montecito, California, in a sort of self-imposed exile from the family, whom Markle has accused of making racist remarks about their son Archie's skin color on more than one occasion.