Royal Central - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
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.
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.”
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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.
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Auctioneer Paul Fairweather shows off a royal Christmas card from 1957 (left) and another one from 1965 alongside their newborn, Prince Edward.
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.
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Here, 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.
Amid their separation, the Prince and Princess of Wales issued their own Christmas cards rather than their former joint ones.
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.
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The Prince and Duchess sent a photo of themselves viewing horses at the Royal Ascot that June.
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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.
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A new family photo – Merry Christmas from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte pic.twitter.com/8d472rlXFW
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 18, 2015
The Prince and Duchess chose a photo from their August trip to Scotland.
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Charles and Camilla shared a photo of their tour of Croatia where they met local performers dressed in the traditional dress of Trvda.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photograph of their family. The image features on Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year. The photograph was taken earlier this year by @ChrisJack_Getty at Kensington Palace. pic.twitter.com/p8jm6zDfl0
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 18, 2017
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This photo is from Camilla’s 70th birthday party in July of that year.
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The Prince and Duchess chose a photo from their visit to Cuba for 2019’s Christmas card.
The Duke and Duchess are delighted to share a new image of their family, which features on their Christmas card this year.
by Matt Porteous pic.twitter.com/fz8ZnrAqbD
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 16, 2020
Delighted 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
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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.
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Marking 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.
Sharing 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
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Following 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.
Our family Christmas card for 2023 ❤️
Josh Shinner pic.twitter.com/X9du9EkpaI
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 9, 2023