The Princess of Wales appeared alongside husband, Prince William, and their three children: Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, in the family snap taken earlier this year in Norfolk by trusted photographer Matt Porteous.

The photo was released in accordance with a royal tradition of sending photographic Christmas cards and follows the release of King Charles’ card on which he is photographed alongside Queen Camilla in a portrait taken in Scotland this September.

A number of royal fans and style experts have picked up on Kate’s faithful wearing of her skinny jeans in the Christmas portrait, despite modern fashion trends erring towards more wide legged cuts.

“The Princess of Wales has been loyal to skinny jeans for years. While more relaxed and wider denim styles have become more popular with the most fashionable set, there has been a lot of recent discussion that skinny jeans are here to stay,” royal expert Christine Ross told Newsweek.

Royal fashion commentator and celebrity stylist Miranda Holder concurred, telling Newsweek: “Tastemakers have been telling us for the last few seasons that skinny jeans are very firmly out of fashion, with looser, more unstructured shapes taking precedence, and although this more voluminous trouser shape is definitely more contemporary, it’s definitely not for everyone, and Kate is a case in point.”

“There is an element of easy practicality about a green pair of skinnies, they hug you like leggings and a good elastane ratio means they move with you, making running around after three boisterous children far easier,” she continued.

“They are also brilliant for tucking into long boots in the winter months, and we know Kate is particularly fond of her knee-length Penelope Chilvers, and finally, they look great on Kate’s naturally willowy frame.”

For Ross, this practicality is most likely the main draw for mother-of-three Kate.

“Kate’s affection for them may come down to practicality: they are, quite simply, the easiest thing to wear with wellies or garden boots,” she said. “They can be extremely flattering and, for many, extremely comfortable. While the trend has shifted from skinny jeans to wider leg styles, we’ve seen skinny styles re-enter the recent fashion runways.”

Though Kate may be the fashion standout of the photograph, it is hard to ignore her equally highly styled family, all of who are in complimentary shades of blue.

“The family photo is effortlessly styled, with the children looking like they’ve just run off the playground, complete with practical trainers and plimsolls. The whole look is extremely relatable,” commented Ross. “This could be any stylish family walking the Norfolk countryside, but actually it’s our new Prince and Princess of Wales.”

Holder offered a similar assessment.

“In true signature style, they are all dressed in varying shades of blue—a style strategy they have turned to more and more as a family, as a show of unity and togetherness, besides creating a nice cohesive look for the image,” she said.

“I like the ’lack of polish’—which will no doubt have all been thought out in advance, but nevertheless positions them as a relatable, down-to-earth, young family who at times live normally just like the rest of us. Prince George’s unbuttoned and untucked polo shirt, slightly scuffed shoes, Charlotte wearing a casual playsuit rather than a more formal dress, William not quite looking straight at the camera, their sunny smiles… it all adds to the already very endearing effect.”

This year, 2022, has marked a distinct change in the family life of William and Kate, no less because they had a change of name from their established “Cambridge family” label which evolved when Queen Elizabeth II died, and King Charles almost immediately made William the Prince of Wales.

As well as undertaking more public appearances owing to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, and state funeral for the queen in September, the three Wales children started at a new school at the beginning of the academic year.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.