A Look Back at the Royal Family’s Christmas Cards Throughout the Years
Prince William and Prince Harry as babies? Adorable!
As one of the most famous families in the world—at this point, it's between them and the Kardashian-Jenners—it makes sense that the Royal Family issues an official Christmas card each year.
The tradition of releasing a portrait over the festive season (which is sent out to well-wishers, friends and fans alike) is one that dates back decades and, throughout the years, royals from Princess Diana to Kate Middleton have got involved in the festive action. But these aren't just ordinary Christmas cards. Of course, with the royals being royal, they often coordinate their outfits for their festive snaps or drop in hidden clues that have a deep meaning to them. Last year, we saw the Prince and Princess of Wales opt for an especially poignant image of their family, which was featured in the moving video of Kate sharing with the public that she is now cancer-free.
Despite stepping back as senior working royals quite some time ago, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have also kept up the tradition of releasing an annual holiday card. And, of course, King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue the tradition, too.
So, with Christmas coming up—and to honor this heartwarming, family tradition—we took a look back at some of the royal Christmas cards of years gone by, from flashbacks of Prince William and Prince Harry as toddlers to an adorable shot of little Archie Harrison stealing the limelight from his parents.
So, grab a hot chocolate, put on your favorite Christmas playlist, and get ready for a very regal round-up...
Royal Christmas cards 2025
King Charles and Queen Camilla opted to use a holiday snap for their 2025 Christmas card. "It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" the caption of the post on Instagram read. "The King and Queen are pleased to share this year's Christmas card, featuring a photograph taken in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky in Rome during Their Majesties' State Visit to The Republic of Italy in April."
Royal Christmas cards 2025
Sharing a family photo taken in April 2025, the Wales family posted the photo from their Christmas card on Instagram just a week before Christmas. "Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas," they wrote in the caption of the post which, unsurprisingly, very quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of likes.
Royal Christmas cards 2025
Princess Anne opted for a low-key and down-to-earth Christmas card for 2025, dropping her royal title and simply signing off with: "From Anne."
Royal Christmas cards 2024
The Wales family, after a brutal year which saw Kate Middleton diagnosed with and recover from cancer, opted for an especially poignant family portrait in 2024—one that also featured in the video the Princess used to tell the public she had been given the all clear.
Royal Christmas cards 2024
Delighting fans with a rarely seen family photo, Meghan and Harry's 2024 festive greetings card featured Lilibet, 3, and Archie, 5, running into their parents' arms (cue: a tonne of comments about how grown-up and tall they've suddenly gotten, along with how striking their red hair is!).
Royal Christmas cards 2024
Leading the way in 2024 by posting theirs first, the King and Queen kept things simple with a springtime garden portrait taken by taken by Millie Pilkington in Buckingham Palace in April 2024. In an Instagram post, a picture of the card was captioned: "Christmas is coming… 🎄✨Their Majesties are pleased to share this year’s Christmas card, taken by @milliepilkingtonphotography in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace in April 2024."
Royal Christmas cards 2023
Plumping for a rather regal snap taken at King Charles' Coronation Day celebrations, the King and Queen kept their 2023 message simple: "Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year."
Royal Christmas cards 2023
The Prince and Princess of Wales treated fans to an off-duty family snap for 2023's festivities, and co-ordinated chic "jeans and a nice top" outfits to boot.
Speaking about what it was like to capture the image, photographer Josh Shinner wrote on his Instagram page: "It was such a pleasure to photograph The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family for the Christmas portrait this year. Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I've ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…"
Royal Christmas cards 2022
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a family photo showing them hand-in-hand with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for 2022—a previously unseen image of the famous fam.
Royal Christmas cards 2022
To mark their first Christmas as King and Queen Consort in 2022, Charles and Camilla sent out this photo captured by Samir Hussein.
Royal Christmas cards 2021
Prince William and Kate Middleton's Christmas card from 2021 was taken during a family trip to Jordan.
Royal Christmas cards 2021
Just one year before he became King, Charles sent out a Christmas card that summed up life in the pandemic.
Royal Christmas cards 2020
This cosy family photo was sent out on Prince William and Kate Middleton's Christmas card back in 2020.
Royal Christmas cards 2020
In a break from tradition, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Christmas card in 2020 was a painted portrait.
Royal Christmas cards 2020
The then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' Christmas card in 2020 was taken in the garden at Birkhall, Scotland.
Royal Christmas cards 2019
The then-Prince Charles and Camilla showed off one of their hobbies in their 2019 Christmas card.
Royal Christmas cards 2018
Taken at their Amner Hall home, Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2018 Christmas card was a true delight!
Royal Christmas cards 2018
We've got one word for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2018 Christmas card: ROMANTIC!
Royal Christmas cards 2018
The then-Prince Charles and Camilla showed fans just how in love they are with their 2018 Christmas card.
Royal Christmas cards 2017
Just before four became five, Prince William and Kate Middleton sent out this Christmas card in 2017.
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