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Kate Middleton, Prince William’s Christmas card nods to ‘brutal’ year

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s new Christmas card is a nod to her recovery following chemotherapy and the family’s “brutal” year.

Unlike Christmas cards of years past, the 42-year-old Prince and Princess of Wales’ 2024 greeting showcases a previously seen family portrait. This one, which shows the couple embracing each other and Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, comes from their September announcement that Kate was cancer-free and had completed chemotherapy.

“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year,” reads the card.

(See the card here.)

The card is set against the backdrop of a decked-out Christmas tree as digital snow appears to fall down around it.

Kate announced on Sept. 9, in a poignant message that, after an “incredibly tough” few months, she was cancer-free and determined to stay that way.

Christmas 2023 marked the last time Kate was seen in public before she underwent “successful” abdominal surgery. She was hospitalized in London at the same time as father-in-law King Charles. By March, both had made public their respective cancer diagnoses.

Speaking to People last month, Prince William said the “dreadful” year had “probably been the hardest” in his life.

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m so proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” said the heir to the British throne. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

William’s comments come amid an ongoing feud with younger brother Prince Harry who, despite his best efforts, can’t seem to get back in the fold.

Though the Duke of Sussex, 40, visited Charles on the heels of his diagnosis, the King, Will and Kate all reportedly passed on his invite to celebrate the Invictus Games anniversary. By July, sources told People Charles was completely ignoring Harry’s calls, whether for favors or to check in on his father.