Festive Photos of the Royal Family Celebrating Christmas
s the holiday season approaches, take a look back at both the royals' annual engagements, from televised addresses to the family's attendance at Christmas Day services in Sandringham, and their classic traditions. Here, we've rounded up the best photos of the late Queen Elizabeth, now-King Charles, Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, and more royal family members getting into the holiday spirit.
1943
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret put on a royal performance of 'Aladdin' at Windsor Castle for Christmas.
1944
The following year, Elizabeth and Margaret starred in a Christmas production of 'Old Mother Red Riding Boots' at Windsor Castle.
1944
Elizabeth and Margaret pose with the full cast of 'Old Mother Red Riding Boots.'
1952
Queen Elizabeth made her first Christmas radio broadcast to the U.K. from Sandringham House in 1952.
1953
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Government House in Auckland, New Zealand on Christmas Day. A man dressed as Santa gives presents to the Governor General's daughters.
1957
As the technology changed, so did the Queen's Christmas addresses, and in 1957, her message was televised for the first time. The desk is decorated with portraits of Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
1969
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth inspect their Christmas tree during the filming of a TV special.
1971
A still from the Queen's Christmas Broadcast, showing her with her sons.
1978
The Queen with her daughter, Princess Anne, and grandson Peter Phillips, during the 1978 Christmas broadcast.
1982
Princess Diana and Prince Charles with a young Prince William at Kensington Palace around Christmastime.
1987
Princess Diana and Lady Rose Windsor walk hand-in-hand as leave the Christmas Day service at St George's Chapel with the rest of the royal family.
1987
Princess Diana meets some Christmas-y fans during a visit to a children's hospital.
1988
Prince Harry plays a Shepherd in his school's Christmas play.
1988
Prince William tries on a fireman's helmet at the Sandringham Museum of Royal Vehicles and Cars during the holidays.
1990
Prince Harry and Prince William sit in a horse-drawn carriage with Santa.
1991
Backstage at London's Royal Opera House, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret enjoy the Christmas decorations.
1992
Princess Diana attends a lunch with author and politician Lord Jeffrey Archer and Lord Denis Healey, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, both dressed as Santa Claus.
1993
Princess Diana turns on the Christmas lights on Bond Street, Central London.
1995
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend a Christmas performance of Cinderella.
1997
Prince William attends the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church.
1997
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie at the annual Christmas Day service, carrying their presents.
1998
Queen Elizabeth and fashion designer Zandra Rhodes admire the tree in Buckingham Palace's Picture Gallery.
1999
The Duchess of York takes her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, to meet Santa at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children party.
2001
Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie Countess of Wessex, attend a ballet adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
2004
Prince Charles hosts a Christmas party with children suffering from leukemia. Here, the kids watch Sergeant Mark Bevan of the Queen's Dragoon put ornaments on the tree with his sword.
2006
Prince Charles greets Santa and his helper at the Not Forgotten Association reception at St James's Palace.
2008
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, poses on a particularly interesting decoration at Selfridges.
2012
Queen Elizabeth smiles as she receives flowers from young well-wishers on Christmas Day.
2012
A Santa-capped Prince Harry poses with a tiny tree at Camp Bastion on December 12, 2012 in Afghanistan.
2012
During a Christmas-themed event at Clarence House, Camilla posed with a car dressed up as a reindeer.
2014
Kate Middleton wraps gifts at the Northside Center for Child Development in New York City.
2016
Prince William decorates a gingerbread house at a Christmas party for volunteers of the Mix youth service.
2016
Princess Charlotte carries a half-eaten candy cane as she leaves a Christmas Day service with her family.
2017
Prince William gives Santa his son Prince George's Christmas list.
2017
The royal family (with Meghan Markle for the first time!) attends traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
2018
Kate Middleton and Prince William host a very festive event at Kensington Palace for children of military families—fake snow and all.
2018
During her first Christmas season as an official member of the royal family, Meghan Markle helps residents of the Royal Variety Charity's nursing home make holiday decorations.
2018
Meghan and Kate share a smile on the walk to St. Mary Magdalene church.
2019
The Duchess visits Peterley Manor Farm to help children pick out Christmas trees for their classrooms. (As it turns out, Kate has a clear preference for the Nordmann Fir variety.)
2019
The Queen records her annual Christmas broadcast, surrounded by a trimmed tree and some sweet family photos.
2019
Following their annual tradition, the royal family attends Christmas Day church services at Sandringham. Here, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, hold hands while heading to church.
2020
The 2020 holidays felt a bit different due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During a socially-distanced celebration, the royals gather outside Windsor Castle to thank essential workers and local volunteers.
2020
Prince William leans in to speak with his grandmother.
2020
Prince Charles and Camilla sport colorful face masks.
2020
The Duchess of Cornwall decorates a tree during a visit to Battersea Dogs Home in Windsor.
2020
Prince William and Kate Middleton greet staff and students from Holy Trinity Church of England First School in Berwick, England.
2020
The couple visits Bath Spa train station to meet a young cancer survivor and his family. The interaction was part of their 2020 holiday tour, in which they visited inspiring individuals throughout the United Kingdom.
2021
In her final Christmas address, Queen Elizabeth spoke about spending the holiday without her late husband. "But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings; and as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas," she shared.
2021
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attend Christmas Day morning church service at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
2022
King Charles celebrated his first Christmas as monarch at Sandringham with his family.
2023
The Wales family were all smiles as they attended Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church.
2024
Kate hosted her annual Christmas Carol service at Westminster Abbey in early December.
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