Through the years, the Royal Family has often sent out holiday cards featuring new or rare photos of themselves and their families. Royal Central is taking a look at the tradition that dates back to the days of King George V and Queen Mary.
1914
King George V and Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II’s grandparents, sent this greeting to troops fighting in World War I. The card reads, “With our best wishes for Christmas 1914, may God protect you and bring you home safe.”
Embed from Getty Images1942
Following a similar path of her grandparents, the then, Princess Elizabeth sent cards to the Grenadier Guards regiment of the British Army fighting in World War II.
Embed from Getty Images1957 and 1965
Embed from Getty ImagesAuctioneer Paul Fairweather shows off a royal Christmas card from 1957 (left) and another one from 1965 alongside their newborn, Prince Edward.
1969 and 1979
Fairweather once again shows off some of the family’s Christmas cards throughout the year including a 1969 image of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s children. Below is a photo of the family 10 years later in 1979.
1981
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
Embed from Getty Images1988
1989
1991
Embed from Getty ImagesHere, one can see the royal Christmas card from the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1991 (upper photo) and then the card from 1997. The photo of the Prince and him and Diana’s children, Princes William and Harry was taken just days before Diana died in an August car crash in Paris.
1994
Amid their separation, the Prince and Princess of Wales issued their own Christmas cards rather than their former joint ones.
1995
1996
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
The newlywed Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall chose this photo from their April wedding to be used as their card. The photo features Charles’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and Camilla’s children, Laura and Tom Parker Bowles.
Embed from Getty Images2012
Embed from Getty Images2013
The Prince and Duchess sent a photo of themselves viewing horses at the Royal Ascot that June.
Embed from Getty Images2014
The Prince and Duchess attend the Invictus Games opening ceremony – Prince Harry’s charity project that uses the power of sport to help wounded, injured, or sick armed services personnel.
Embed from Getty Images2015
The Prince and Duchess chose a photo from their August trip to Scotland.
Embed from Getty Images2016
Charles and Camilla shared a photo of their tour of Croatia where they met local performers dressed in the traditional dress of Trvda.
2017
This photo is from Camilla’s 70th birthday party in July of that year.
2018
2019
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Prince and Duchess chose a photo from their visit to Cuba for 2019’s Christmas card.
2020
The Duke and Duchess are delighted to share a new image of their family, which features on their Christmas card this year🎄.
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 16, 2020
📸 by Matt Porteous pic.twitter.com/fz8ZnrAqbD
2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsDelighted to share a new image of the family, which features on this year’s Christmas card 🎄 pic.twitter.com/aHFIhSfVXx
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 10, 2021
In 2021, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose a family photo from a holiday in Jordan to mark their official Christmas card. Then-Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall shared a photo of them adjusting their face masks, acknowledging carrying out royal duties despite a global health crisis.
Embed from Getty Images2022
Embed from Getty ImagesMarking their first Christmas as King and Queen, Their Majesties shared a photo taken at the Braemar Games on 3rd September 2022, just days before Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. The newly named Prince and Princess of Wales would share a photo taken by Matt Porteous earlier in the year in Norfolk.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSharing a new picture of the family for this year’s Christmas card! 🎄 pic.twitter.com/R98RyMmQ5C
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 13, 2022
2023
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing a historic year and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, an official Coronation portrait was chosen for this year’s Christmas card. The Prince and Princess of Wales opted for a black and white family portrait with matching outfits taken by photographer Josh Shinner.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsOur family Christmas card for 2023 🎄❤️
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 9, 2023
📸 Josh Shinner pic.twitter.com/X9du9EkpaI
