In a surprising move, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, took to Instagram to share a never-before-seen Christmas photo from her own childhood. The photo, taken in 1983, shows a young Middleton wearing a blue and white dress paired with a dark blue cardigan. She can also be seen wearing a colorful beaded necklace as she sits in front of a bowl and several lit candles, with twinkling holiday lights in the background.

The purpose behind Middleton's post was to raise awareness for her Shaping Us campaign, which focuses on addressing the needs of children in the first five years of their lives. The photo's caption read, "Sharing some festive memories this Christmas because #ShapingUs is all about the vital importance of our early years and the role played by those around us in shaping the rest of our lives." Middleton's staff posted the photo as part of the campaign, and it coincided with the royal's third annual Christmas carol concert, which was filmed earlier in the month. The concert will be available for the public to watch on ITV at 7:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The photo quickly caught the attention of fans, who couldn't help but comment on how much Middleton's youngest son, Prince Louis, resembles his mother at that age. One fan exclaimed, "Louis is her double," while another person stated, "Prince Louis looks just like his mother." Many fans expressed their delight at seeing Middleton's childhood photo, with one user gushing, "Aww!! Catherine was such a cutie pie," and another noticing, "I so do see so many glimpses of baby Prince Louis in her."

Interestingly, the release of Middleton's photo comes on the heels of an embarrassing incident involving the Wales family's Christmas card. The card, released just a week prior, featured Prince William, Middleton, and their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, eagle-eyed royal watchers quickly pointed out that Prince Louis appeared to be missing a middle finger in the black-and-white photo. The royals stated that they were "very pleased to share a new photograph of their family," but critics couldn't help but notice the Photoshop fail.

The missing finger became a topic of discussion, and social media users didn't hold back their opinions. One user questioned, "Wait, where is Louis' middle finger?" while another commented, "Louis is missing a finger, this has got to be the worst Photoshopped pic ever." Theories arose, speculating that Prince Louis, known for his mischievous behavior, might have simply bent his finger back. A source close to the royal family revealed that William and Middleton felt “embarrassed” by the whole ordeal, expressing their shock at the attention the missing finger received.

The incident even made its way into the comedy realm, as "Saturday Night Live" mocked the Wales family's Christmas card in their “Weekend Update” sketch. Co-anchor Colin Jost joked about the bad Photoshop job and the missing finger, eliciting laughter from the audience. To add to the humor, a fake photo of Meghan Markle holding up her middle finger was displayed on the screen, suggesting that she had a finger they could use if needed.

Despite the amusement surrounding the missing finger, the Wales family has remained composed. Photographer Josh Shinner, who captured the portrait, shared his experience on Instagram, expressing how relaxed and enjoyable the sitting was. He even joked that he now has a new set of jokes thanks to the children. Shinner also shared an original sketch of his vision for the photo, but some social media users criticized the final product, comparing the family of five to a JCPenney ad and questioning the lack of holiday cheer in the background.

Overall, Middleton's childhood Christmas photo has sparked intrigue and admiration from fans, drawing attention to her Shaping Us campaign and highlighting the striking resemblance between herself and her son, Prince Louis. As the holiday season approaches, the royals continue to captivate the public's attention, even if it's due to the occasional Photoshop mishap.