{"id":644209,"date":"2025-12-20T12:25:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T12:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644209\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T12:25:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T12:25:17","slug":"see-photos-of-the-royal-family-celebrating-christmas-over-the-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644209\/","title":{"rendered":"See Photos of the Royal Family Celebrating Christmas Over the Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to Christmas, it’s hard to think of a family more imbued with traditions<\/a> than the British royals<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Take, for instance, their annual Christmas morning walkabout<\/a> from Sandringham House in Norfolk<\/a> to St. Mary Magdalene Church, which is a must-see moment every year, if for nothing else but the fabulous winter coats<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

After church services, the family enjoys continued celebrations, including a gag gift exchange, a game of backyard soccer and a turkey feast. For Prince William<\/a> specifically, there’s no wearing an ugly Christmas sweater<\/a> or Elf on the Shelf<\/a>, but he does watch Elf<\/a> every year and appreciates the time he gets to spend with his extended family.\n<\/p>\n

“Bringing the family together at Christmastime is always lovely<\/a> because we’re quite spread out doing our things a lot of time throughout the year. We get very few moments to actually come together,” William said during a 2021 interview on Radio Marsden. “When I see my children meet up with my cousin’s children, and they all have a wonderful time playing together, it’s very special.”\n<\/p>\n

However, the holiday season starts well before Dec. 25 for the royals: King Charles III<\/a>‘s speech is filmed before Christmas Day<\/a>, and Kate Middleton<\/a>‘s annual “Together at Christmas” carol service<\/a> takes place in London in early December.\n<\/p>\n

From firsts like Queen Elizabeth<\/a>‘s 1957 televised Christmas broadcast<\/a> and the King’s Sandringham debut as monarch<\/a> to a young Prince Harry<\/a>‘s adorable turn as an elf, here are some of the best royal holiday photos.\n<\/p>\n

1944: Pantomime Time <\/p>\n

Princess Margaret (left) and then-Princess Elizabeth ahead of their ‘Old Mother Red Riding Boots’ Christmas pantomime at Windsor Castle in England on Dec. 23, 1944.<\/p>\n

Lisa Sheridan\/Studio Lisa\/Hulton Archive\/Getty<\/p>\n

Princess Margaret<\/a> and then-Princess Elizabeth got glammed up in intricate, elaborate gowns for their Christmas pantomime of Old Mother Red Riding Boots, which they performed at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.\n<\/p>\n

The 1944 performance was the last of four World War II-era plays in which the sisters took part. Town & Country reported<\/a> that when Margaret was 11, she was inspired by a prior concert that benefitted the Royal Household Wool Fund and proposed a similar idea to Royal School headmaster Hubert Tannar, who ended up writing and producing each play. (The first three were Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin.)\n<\/p>\n

1957: Queen Elizabeth’s First Televised Christmas Broadcast <\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth makes her Christmas broadcast to the nation in 1957.<\/p>\n

Daily Herald Archive\/National Science & Media Museum\/SSPL via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Queen gave her first Christmas speech as monarch in 1952, while 1957 marked the first year the annual tradition, which she recorded at Sandringham, was fully televised.\n<\/p>\n

1969: Delightful Decorating <\/p>\n

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth look at a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1969.
\nBettmann\/Getty<\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip<\/a> put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree in a still from the 1969 ITV-BBC film documentary The Royal Family.\n<\/p>\n

The late monarch enjoyed many holiday customs, including personalized stockings for her beloved corgis<\/a> and a traditional Christmas lunch<\/a> with her extended family.\n<\/p>\n

1982: Prince William Brings the Joy <\/p>\n

From left: Prince William, then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana at home at Kensington Palace in London on Dec. 22, 1982.<\/p>\n

Keystone\/Hulton Archive\/Getty<\/p>\n

In a sweet moment captured at Kensington Palace when William was six months old, then-Prince Charles can be seen holding onto his son as mom Diana \u2014 clad in a red-and-white dress \u2014 held up a teething ring.\n<\/p>\n

The photo was taken on Dec. 22, 1982, marking the Windsors’ first Christmas season as a family of three. Harry joined the clan less than two years later on Sept. 15, 1984.\n<\/p>\n

1987: A Laugh with Santa Claus <\/p>\n

Princess Diana with Jimmy Tarbuck (left) dressed as Santa Claus at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 1987.
\nBrendan Beirne\/REX\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Princess Diana<\/a> smiles with comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, who was dressed as Santa Claus, during a visit to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to bring the kids there presents. Diana was long associated with the specialist children’s hospital and became its president in 1989.\n<\/p>\n

1987: Prince on the Shelf <\/p>\n

Prince Harry is dressed in an elf costume in London in 1987.
\nTim Graham\/Getty<\/p>\n

A young Harry dressed up as an elf<\/a> to take part in his school’s Nativity play in 1987. The following year, he was upgraded to the role of a shepherd.\n<\/p>\n

This tradition has been carried on to the next generation. In 2017, William revealed that his son, Prince George<\/a>, played the part of a sheep<\/a> in his school’s play.\n<\/p>\n

1989: Matching Moments <\/p>\n

Princess Diana takes her sons Prince William (left) and Prince Harry to the Christmas Carol Concert at Wetherby School in London on Dec. 13, 1989.<\/p>\n

Georges De Keerle\/Getty<\/p>\n

Diana, dressed in a white blouse topped with a black-and-red checkered blazer and dotted maxi skirt, held William and Harry’s hands as she escorted them to the Christmas Carol Concert at Wetherby School in London.\n<\/p>\n

The boys looked adorable in their matching school uniforms, wearing gray button-down shirts, red ties, black shorts and gray-and-red blazers with matching knee socks.\n<\/p>\n

1990: Santa’s Helpers <\/p>\n

Prince Harry (center) and Prince William meet Santa Claus backstage at the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in London on Dec. 17, 1990.<\/p>\n

Martin Keene \u2014 PA Images\/Getty<\/p>\n

You’re never too royal to visit with Kris Kringle! During a trip to the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in London with their mom, brothers Harry and William climbed into Santa’s sleigh.\n<\/p>\n

1992: A Santa Sandwich <\/p>\n

From left: Jeffrey Archer, Princess Diana and Denis Healy arrive at a charity Christmas event at the Hilton Hotel in London in 1992.
\nREX\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

It’s a Saint Nick double-take! Princess Diana was greeted by two Santas, Jeffrey Archer and Denis Healy, during a charity Christmas event at the Hilton Hotel in London.\n<\/p>\n

1995: A Cinderella Christmas <\/p>\n

Sarah Ferguson with her daughters, Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie, at a Christmas pantomime of ‘Cinderella’ in London on Dec. 18, 1995.
\nTim Graham\/Getty<\/p>\n

Princess Beatrice<\/a> and Princess Eugenie<\/a> sported matching plaid outfits as they attended a Christmas pantomime of Cinderella in London with their mother, Sarah Ferguson<\/a> (affectionately known as Fergie), who wore a festive red satin dress. The play was in support of Children in Crisis, the charity Fergie founded in 1993.\n<\/p>\n

1997: First Christmas Without Princess Diana <\/p>\n

From left: Then-Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William are photographed walking back from Christmas morning service at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 1997.<\/p>\n

JOHN STILLWELL\/POOL\/AFP via Getty<\/p>\n

Harry and William joined their father for the walk back to the Sandringham Estate after Christmas morning church service. The brothers offered smiles to well-wishers, which was likely not easy, as it was their first Christmas without their mother. Princess Diana died just months earlier in a car crash<\/a> in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997.\n<\/p>\n

1998: Chocolate for the Children <\/p>\n

From left: A man dressed as Santa Claus, the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth prepare to give chocolate bars at Ascot races in 1998.<\/p>\n

Tony Harris \u2014 PA Images via Getty<\/p>\n

The late monarch and the Queen Mum<\/a> helped Santa hand out chocolate bars to children at the Ascot races.\n<\/p>\n

1998: Backstage Pass <\/p>\n

Sarah Ferguson (center) with her daughters and cast members of a Christmas extravaganza at the Theatre Royal in London on Dec. 6, 1998.
\nTim Graham\/Getty<\/p>\n

Fergie made it a tradition to bring her daughters to the theater around the holidays. After the 1998 Christmas extravaganza at London’s Theatre Royal, the trio even got to meet the performers.\n<\/p>\n

1998: Grateful for Gifts <\/p>\n

Prince Harry (left) and Prince William attend the annual Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Dec. 25, 1998.
\nUK Press via Getty<\/p>\n

Harry and William once again took part in the tradition of attending the annual Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church and accepted small gifts from the gathered well-wishers<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

2010: Santa’s Greetings! <\/p>\n

A man dressed as Santa and Camilla, then-Duchess of Cornwall, wave before turning on the Christmas lights in Bath, Somerset, England, in 2010.
\nMark Cuthbert\/UK Press via Getty<\/p>\n

Queen Camilla<\/a>, then the Duchess of Cornwall, waved with Santa as she visited Bath, England, to turn on the Christmas lights.\n<\/p>\n

2012: Holiday Away from Home <\/p>\n

Prince Harry wears a Santa hat while posing outside VHR tent in Afghanistan on Dec. 12, 2012.<\/p>\n

John Stillwell \u2014 WPA Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

The Duke of Sussex posed in a Santa hat as he stood outside the VHR (very high readiness) tent at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, where he served as an Apache helicopter pilot\/gunner<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

2012: Wishing Everyone a Happy Christmas <\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London on Dec. 7, 2012.<\/p>\n

John Stillwell \u2014 WPA Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

The Queen recorded her annual Christmas message<\/a> to the Commonwealth in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London. It was momentous, as 2012 marked the first broadcast aired in 3D on Christmas Day. In the speech, she celebrated the Olympic<\/a> and Paralympic athletes who had inspired Great Britain that year.\n<\/p>\n

2014: Gift Wrapping Gal <\/p>\n

Kate Middleton, then-Duchess of Cambridge, wraps Christmas presents at the Northside Center for Child Development in New York City on Dec. 8, 2014.<\/p>\n

Mark Stewart \u2014 Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

Kate put her gift-wrapping skills on display during a stop at the Northside Center for Child Development in N.Y.C., part of a three-day official visit with husband William<\/a> to New York and Washington.\n<\/p>\n

2015: A Warm Embrace <\/p>\n

Kate Middleton hugs a young boy at the Anna Freud Centre Family School in London on Dec. 15, 2015.
\nChris Jackson\/AFP\/Getty<\/p>\n

Clad in a merry red ensemble, the Princess of Wales hugged a young boy after receiving a present at the Anna Freud Centre Family School’s Christmas party. During the event, the then-Duchess of Cambridge joined groups of families in festive activities designed to help pupils at the London school reflect on the positive progress they were making in their social relationships and communication skills.\n<\/p>\n

2016: Gingerbread Game Time <\/p>\n

Prince William decorates a gingerbread house at a charity Christmas party in London on Dec. 19, 2016.
\nALASTAIR GRANT\/AFP\/Ge<\/p>\n

The Prince of Wales focused all his attention on decorating a gingerbread house during a charity Christmas party<\/a> hosted by the youth support service The Mix in London, which he attended with his wife Kate and brother Harry.\n<\/p>\n

The gathering included volunteers from the trio’s Heads Together<\/a> initiative \u2014 the mental health campaign they launched<\/a> in the spring of 2016. Not long after, all three started their Christmas break, with William and Kate taking their children, George and Princess Charlotte,<\/a> for their first Christmas at the Middletons’ family home<\/a> in Bucklebury, in rural Berkshire, England. (Prince Louis<\/a> didn’t join the family until April 23, 2018.)\n<\/p>\n

2016: A Country Christmas <\/p>\n

From left: Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William arrive to attend the service at St. Mark’s Church in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on Dec. 25, 2016.<\/p>\n

Andrew Matthews \u2014 WPA Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

Kate carried daughter Charlotte while William held onto son George’s hand as they made their way to Christmas service at St. Mark’s Church in Bucklebury.\n<\/p>\n

2016: Candy Cane Cuties <\/p>\n

Prince George and Princess Charlotte with candy canes following Christmas Day service at St. Mark’s Church in Berkshire, England, on Dec. 25, 2016.<\/p>\n

ANDREW MATTHEWS\/AFP\/Getty; Samir Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n

Royals have a sweet tooth, too! Following the service, George enjoyed a favorite holiday treat: a candy cane! Charlotte was given one as well<\/a>, holding onto hers carefully as she exited the church hand in hand with her mom.\n<\/p>\n

2017: Wish List for Santa <\/p>\n

Prince William hands a man dressed as Santa Claus the Christmas wish list of Prince George during the second day of his tour of Finland in 2017.
\nDominic Lipinski\/PA Images via Getty<\/p>\n

William shared then 4-year-old George’s Christmas wish list with Santa when the future king visited a holiday market in Helsinki as part of his tour of Finland.\n<\/p>\n

“I’ve seen you, and I had to give you this letter,” William told Father Christmas, according to Metro<\/a>, adding with a laugh, “He hasn’t written down many requests, so I think one request is probably okay.”\n<\/p>\n

On the paper, George circled that he had been “nice,” which William confirmed his son had been, and wrote that he hoped to get a police car for Christmas.\n<\/p>\n

2017: Meghan’s First Royal Christmas <\/p>\n

Kate Middleton (second, left), Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2017.
\nChris Jackson\/Getty<\/p>\n

Meghan Markle<\/a>‘s royal Christmas debut! Months before her wedding to Harry<\/a>, Meghan joined the royals for Christmas Day service<\/a> at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2017. She was photographed walking in line and later standing with Kate, William and her fianc\u00e9.\n<\/p>\n

In November 2018, a source told PEOPLE that the previous year, Meghan and Harry had enjoyed a memorable first Christmas together with Kate and William.\n<\/p>\n

“They really loved Christmas<\/a>, and all had a wonderful time,” the source said of Meghan and Kate. “I think the two women got on \u2014 they are definitely not best friends, but it was a really special time for them all to spend together.”\n<\/p>\n

2018: The Fab Four Walkabout <\/p>\n

From left: Then-Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walk to Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2018.<\/p>\n

Samir Hussein\/Samir Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n

William, Kate, Meghan and Harry walked in line behind then-Prince Charles as they made their way to the Christmas Day service<\/a> at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2018.\n<\/p>\n

Along the route, Kate and Meghan \u2014 who was then pregnant<\/a> with her and Harry’s first child, son Prince Archie<\/a> \u2014 were seen chatting happily. Kate wore a festive red Alexander McQueen coat dress with a burgundy Jane Taylor headband and Gianvito Rossi pumps. Meghan opted for a deep navy dress and a Victoria Beckham coat with a matching fascinator.\n<\/p>\n

2019: Walking Hand-in-Hand <\/p>\n

From left: Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George attend Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2019.
\nJoe Giddens\/PA Images via Getty<\/p>\n

George and Charlotte made their Christmas debut at Sandringham<\/a> in 2019, holding their parents’ hands as they walked to church alongside the rest of the royal family.\n<\/p>\n

2021: Candlelit Performance <\/p>\n

Kate Middleton, then-Duchess of Cambridge, plays the piano for ‘Together at Christmas’ carol concert at Westminster Abbey in London on Dec. 24, 2021.
\nAlex Bramall\/Kensington Palace via Getty<\/p>\n

Kate hosted her first Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 8, 2021, which was later broadcast on Christmas Eve. In a surprise move, she accompanied singer Tom Walker on the piano<\/a> for a performance of “For Those Who Can’t Be Here<\/a>.”\n<\/p>\n

2022: Leading the Masses <\/p>\n

Queen Camilla (front, left) and King Charles III (front, right) lead the royal family to St. Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2022.
\nSamir Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n

On their way to church on Christmas Day, the King and the Queen Consort led the charge for the first time since the start of their new reign<\/a>, reviving the annual tradition after it had been paused since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

2022: Chatting with the Reverend <\/p>\n

From left: Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Williams, Princess Beatrice, Christopher Woolf and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2022.
\nJoe Giddens\/PA Images via Getty<\/p>\n

Princess Beatrice\u00a0introduced her stepson,\u00a0Christopher Woolf<\/a> (a.k.a. “Wolfie”),\u00a0to the royal family’s holiday walk for the first time. After the church service, the young boy spoke with Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Williams, while Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi<\/a> observed proudly.\n<\/p>\n

2023: Strolling to Church <\/p>\n

From left: Princess Kate, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall walk to the Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2023.<\/p>\n

Samir Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n

En route to St. Mary Magdalene Church, the Prince and Princess of Wales locked hands with their children as they\u00a0followed closely behind Charles and Camilla. Joining them was Mia Tindall<\/a>, daughter of William’s cousin, Zara Tindall<\/a>, who held Louis’ hand during their walk.\n<\/p>\n

2024: King Charles’ Christmas Broadcast <\/p>\n

King Charles records his Christmas broadcast at Fitzrovia Chapel in London on Dec. 11, 2024.<\/p>\n

Aaron Chown – WPA Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

The monarch continued the royal tradition with his third Christmas speech in 2024.\n<\/p>\n

He filmed it at Fitzrovia Chapel, the former chapel of Middlesex Hospital in London, marking the first time in 18 years that the monarch’s speech was filmed outside a royal residence<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

The broadcast was aired following the royal family’s annual walk to church in Sandringham and came at the close of what his son William described as a “brutal” year<\/a>, as both Charles and Kate had been diagnosed with cancer<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

2025: Mama and Mini Me <\/p>\n

From left: Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton at the “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 5, 2025.<\/p>\n

Aaron Chown – Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n

Kate and her lookalike son shared a sweet glance<\/a> at her “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey. The festive event was George, Charlotte and Louis’ first joint outing in six months<\/a> following Trooping the Colour<\/a> in June 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When it comes to Christmas, it’s hard to think of a family more imbued with traditions than the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":644210,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7708],"tags":[5105,7710,519,448],"class_list":{"0":"post-644209","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-royals","8":"tag-royal","9":"tag-royal-families","10":"tag-royal-family","11":"tag-royals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/644209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=644209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/644209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/644210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=644209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=644209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=644209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}