Kate Middleton Shares Never Before Seen Image from Childhood Christmas — and She Looks Just Like Prince Louis!

The Princess of Wales released a family photo of her celebrating Christmas as a nearly two-year-old

Taken during a family Christmas in 1983, the image has been released ahead of her 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service airing on Christmas Eve on ITV at 7.45pm
Kate Middleton at her family's table at Christmas 1983. Photo:

The Middleton Family

Kate Middleton is looking back on her childhood holiday celebrations!

On Monday, the Princess of Wales shared a family photo of her sitting at a Christmas dinner table in 1983, just a few weeks before she turned 2 on January 9, 1984.

The image shows Kate wearing a dark cardigan and blue and white dress, along with a colorful beaded necklace — and bearing a remarkable resemblance to her son, Prince Louis, 5. In front of Kate rests a bowl and some lit candles, while some festive decorations twinkle behind her.

Kate shared the photo on social media as part of her awareness-raising Shaping Us campaign that addresses the needs of children in their first five years of life. The campaign is nearly a year old and was also the inspiration behind her annual Christmas carol concert earlier this month at Westminster Abbey.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (rear) sits Britain's Prince Louis of Cambridge on his knee during the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5, 2022
Prince Louis and King Charles on June 5, 2022.

Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP / Getty

The film of the service airs in the U.K. on ITV on Christmas Eve and includes Louis and his royal siblings  Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, 8, alongside professionals, staff and volunteers from some of Britain's baby banks.

In the run-up to the Christmas Eve show, and to build on her campaign, Kate has also asked people to follow her lead and share images of their earliest holiday celebrations.

The Dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend The "Together At Christmas" Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 08, 2023 in London, England.
Princess Kate and her family at the Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2023.

Chris Jackson/Getty

On Saturday, Kate, 41, released a new introduction to the festive concert: "Welcome to our third carol service at Westminster Abbey. Christmas is a time when we come together and celebrate the birth of a newborn baby."

“The arrival of every baby is a precious and momentous time, it brings us together to reflect on new beginnings and brings hope for the future. Throughout our earliest interactions, relationships and experiences, with those who love us, even before we are born, we lay the foundations to so much of what that future will depend on,” she continued. “But only by valuing and supporting the vital role of the adults in a child's world can we hope to make a difference."

“And so tonight's guests have been invited in recognition of their support of our youngest children, as we shine a spotlight on the critical role they play in nurturing and raising the future generation,” the Princess of Wales said, referring to the spotlight on Shaping Us at this year’s service.

“From parents and carers, to early educators, midwives, health visitors and community volunteers, thank you for all you do in helping the very youngest members of our communities, feel safe, valued and loved,” Kate said. “This is not just making a difference to children today, it will go on to shape a happier, healthier, fairer world in the future.”

Kate Middleton princess of Wales Catherine Christmas carols London 12 08 23 william louie george charlotte
Prince William, Princess Kate and their family at the Together at Christmas carol concert.

Chris Jackson/Getty

In the run-up to the holidays, Kate took her children to a baby bank, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, to help pack gifts and provisions for disadvantaged families. In a film shown on Kensington Palace's social channels, Kate drives up in the family's SUV and helps the children unload donations that they brought along.

The royal siblings were told that the gifts and donations were sorted by teams of people giving their time for free. "You're the volunteers for this evening," Kate told her children.

Kate Middleton Promotes Christmas Carol Concert in New Commercial
Princess Kate promotes the ITV broadcast of her Together at Christmas carol concert.

ITV

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This year marks the third time Kate has hosted a Together at Christmas concert. Viewers will see Prince William reading a story from the Bible during the service. Additional readings and short films were made Micheal Ward, Emma Willis, Roman Kemp and Jim Broadbent. A specially commissioned poem written by Joseph Coelho, the Children’s Laureate, was also delivered by Leonie Elliott.

Shaping Us is part of Kate's ongoing, long-term commitment to increasing the awareness of the needs of children aged under 5 and the people who care for them. The campaign aims to unite midwives, kindergarten teachers, academics and developmental experts to further the knowledge and understanding of how important the 0-5 years are.

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