Prince Louis appears to lose finger in Christmas card photo editing fail

One UK newspaper praised the newly released family portrait for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s annual Christmas card, saying it presents a “modern,” relatable image of the British monarchy, with the couple and their three children dressed casually in jeans and white, button-down shirts.

Taken by a photographer best known for his work with celebrities and fashion magazines, the Telegraph said the “striking,” black-and-white image of the Waleses also shows the three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, “looking suddenly more mature, gazing directly at the camera.” The Wales represent the monarchy’s  “future,” the Telegraph said.

But online, very observant royal fans — or detractors — noticed a few things amiss with the photo, including the way that 5-year-old Prince Louis appears to have lost a middle finger, the Daily Mail reported. Louis’ left arm is resting on a chair, on which his big sister, 8-year-old Princess Charlotte, sits. And, in an apparent Photoshop fail, Louis seems to be missing the middle finger of his left hand.

The error somehow went unnoticed by the Wales, because it remained in the photo that the couple released to the public over the weekend, the Daily Mail said. While thousands of royal fans praised the casual family portrait, others were amused by the editing mistake.

“What happened to Louis’ middle finger?” was a typical comment, the Daily Mail reported. “Louis is missing a finger; this has got to be the worst Photoshopped pic ever,” said another.

On X, formerly Twitter, social media users also noticed a few other oddities, such as Charlotte’s left hand appearing to be “too long” and some missing shoelaces on the children’s trainers, the Daily Mail said. Someone else observed something strange going on with Louis’ and William’s legs, which are visible behind the chair. Either one of William’s legs, in long trousers, is missing, or Louis, in shorts, has gained a third leg.

Meanwhile, not so strange but still worthy of mention: 10-year-old George’s shirt displays the Ralph Lauren Polo logo. Ralph Lauren was a designer favored by his late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales, the Telegraph said.

The photo was taken by Josh Shinner, a London-based photographer, who has shot portraits of actors, singers and models for Vogue, Esquire, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph said. This Christmas portrait of the Wales is his first royal assignment.

Whatever errors are present in the photo, its more relaxed image of the Wales continues their tradition of releasing Christmas Card photos in which they try to appear to be a regular, young British family. Their best known Christmas Card was released in 2018, when the photo showed the family of five all sitting on a tree trunk at their country estate in Norfolk.

The Telegraph also remarked on the contrast between the Wales’ casual Christmas card portrait and the more formal image presented by King Charles III and Queen Camilla this year.

The monarch’s photo, by Hugo Burnand, the official Coronation photographer, was taken at Buckingham Palace on May 6, shortly after the newly crowned king and queen returned from Westminster Abbey, the Telegraph said. The image shows the couple standing side by side, “resplendent in their Coronation finery.” The Telegraph said it is the image “of pomp and ceremony.”