LONDON (AP) — Kensington Palace has released photos of Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and their children George and Charlotte on a ski holiday in the French Alps.

The six images published Monday show William, Kate, 2 1/2-year-old George and 10-month-old Charlotte on the snowy slopes last week.

The palace says it was "their first holiday as a family of four and the first time either of the children had played in the snow."

Two photos show the royal couple having a playful snowball fight.

The release of the pictures follows a media policy established when William and his brother Prince Harry were children: privacy in exchange for agreed-upon photo opportunities at birthdays and during school holidays.

That allowed the princes to have — by royal standards — a relatively normal upbringing, something Kate and William are keen to give their own children.