Holiday cards from friends and family are a longstanding tradition — but so are ones from royals around the world.
King Charles and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have been releasing Christmas card photos of their respective families for years, as had generations of British royals before them. Whether the image captures a candid moment, a significant event or a staged family photo, these season’s greetings have been a way to wish the public well and offer words of gratitude and hope.
The Brits aren’t the only royals bringing glad tidings, as other monarchs have shared their own holiday messages.
Here are royal Christmas cards from throughout the years.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Family 2024
Surprise! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released their holiday card on Dec. 16, and included an image of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for the first time in three years.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter front and center in the collage of six pictures, which showed Archie and Lilibet running towards their parents with love.
“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message said. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”
The montage’s five other shots were pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan during their trips to Nigeria and Colombia earlier this year.
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Princess Anne 2024
Princess Anne gave a wave in the photo chosen for her 2024 Christmas card alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The snap captured the couple traveling by carriage after the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle in June, celebrating the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in the U.K.
“With best wishes for a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year,” read the card’s message, which the Princess Royal appeared to sign “From Anne” in her own handwriting. The holiday card from King Charles’ sister was shared to social media on Dec. 14 by the Reliant Motor Club, of which Anne is an honorary member.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla 2024
King Charles and Queen Camilla were all smiles in the official Christmas card that Buckingham Palace revealed on Dec. 7.
“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year,” read the well-wishes. The season’s greetings starred a photo of the couple, taken by photographer Millie Pilkington in the Garden at Buckingham Palace in April 2024, where they posed close together.
It’s been a challenging year for the British royals, as the palace announced in February that the King was diagnosed with cancer, and his treatment is thought to be ongoing.
The King, 76, and Queen, 77, previously chose one of Pilkington’s photos to accompany the April update that the King was resuming forward-facing duties following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis.
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2024
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco cozied up alongside their 10-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, for their holiday wishes issued on Dec. 2. The royal family was on-trend by wearing cozy knits in neutral colors, and posed close together before a Christmas tree.
“The Prince’s Palace is pleased to share with you the photo of the princely family’s greeting card,” read the message in French.
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Prince William and Princess Kate’s Family 2023
Kate Middleton and Prince William opted for a studio setting and black and white snap for their 2023 Christmas card photo featuring Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis matching in white button-down shirts and jeans.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla 2023
King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their coronation year with a regal Christmas card photo taken in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace following their crowning ceremony in May 2023.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 2023
Prince Harry and Meghan shared their annual holiday card on Dec. 15, 2023, a virtual greeting sent via email on behalf of their Archewell organization. “We wish you a very happy holiday season. Thanks for all the support in 2023!” the card reads, opting for a photo taken at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games, which took place in September in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2023
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene kept things glamorous and festive in their Christmas card, starring their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
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Prince William and Princess Kate’s Family 2022
The Prince and Princess of Wales went sunny and casual for their 2022 Christmas card photo. The sweet snap was taken by photographer Matt Porteous earlier in the year in Norfolk — and there are plenty of Easter eggs with closer inspection. (Prince George’s untucked shirt! Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis not holding hands! Kate’s recycled shirt!)
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King Charles and Queen Camilla 2022
For the first Christmas card of King Charles’ reign, he and Queen Camilla picked a candid photo was taken by Samir Hussein at the Braemar Games — a special exhibition of the Scottish heritage and their traditional games that takes place each year in the Scottish Highlands, in early September — just days before the death of Queen Elizabeth.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 2022
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their 2022 holiday card opting for a black-and-white photo at the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City.
“Wishing you a joyful holiday season,” the card said. “From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace, and a very happy new year.”
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2022
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene gathered around the Christmas tree with their twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, for their 2022 Christmas card portrait.
“It’s very nice,” Prince Albert, who has been posing for annual cards since childhood, told PEOPLE. “We’re back beside the tree.”
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Dutch Royal Family 2022
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands posed with wife Queen Máxima and their three daughters — Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane — for their Christmas card photo. A family pet even made a cameo appearance!
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William and Kate’s Family 2021
Prince William and Kate released their annual family Christmas card in December 2021, featuring Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in front of a stone background. The sweet family shot was taken that year during a private family trip to Jordan, according to Kensington Palace.
“Delighted to share a new image of the family, which features on this year’s Christmas card 🎄,” the couple wrote on Instagram alongside the photo.
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Charles and Camilla 2021
The couple opted for a candid shot that’s oh-so-2021 for that year’s Christmas card, featuring Prince Charles helping his wife adjust her mask at the Royal Ascot.
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Harry and Meghan’s Family 2021
Meghan and Prince Harry shared their 2021 Christmas card (which was taken in the summer at their home in Santa Barbara by Alexi Lubomirski) featuring their children Lilibet, then just 6 months, and Archie, when he was 2. It was the first public photo of the couple’s daughter, who was born in June 2021, and also gave a look at how big Archie had grown.
The message on the card reads, “This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a ‘Mama’ and a ‘Papa’, and Lili made us a family. As we look forward to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to several organizations that honor and protect families – from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave.”
The card was first shared with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led organization to which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have previously lent support.
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William and Kate’s Family 2020
Prince Louis’ smile took center stage in 2020’s Christmas card, which saw the royals posing in fall sweaters at their family’s country home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall.
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Charles and Camilla 2020
The couple’s 2020 card was a vibrant shot taken in the garden of Birkhall, their home in Scotland.
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Harry and Meghan’s Family 2020
The pair released their first American Christmas card in 2020 before celebrating the holidays in Montecito, Calif. Starring Archie and their two dogs, Pula and Guy, the card was an illustration of a photo taken by Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland.
“Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” the card stated.
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Harry and Meghan’s Family 2020
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust shared the couple’s first Christmas card as parents, which featured a photo taken by her friend Janina Gavankar that showcased baby Archie’s adorable cheeks.
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William and Kate’s Family 2018
Prince William and Kate Middleton released their official family Christmas card with Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 3, and Prince Louis, 8 months, taking center stage.
The holiday portrait was taken in early fall and features all three kids — with little Louis making his Christmas card debut!
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Harry and Meghan 2018
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started a new tradition — it’s their first-ever Christmas card!
The pair’s first festive season as a married couple was marked with a newly released photo from their wedding celebrations. In the image, the couple are photographed from behind as they enjoy the fireworks at the evening reception at Frogmore House in May 2018.
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Charles and Camilla 2019
They were clearly ready to race into the new year!
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2018
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene posed with their two children, Prince Jacques and Princess Charlene, for their annual Christmas card photo shoot. Once again, they went with festive and glamorous!
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2018
Royal fans got a two-for-one special when the Monaco royals opted to include a second image in their 2018 card. This special addition was a portrait of 4-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, showing off their adorable sibling bond.
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Charles and Camilla 2018
For 2018, the couple’s Christmas card featured a casual photo of Charles and Camilla chatting with each other one a wooden bench. Photographer Hugo Burnand captured the moment, in which Charles is dressed in a suit while Camilla wears a white dress and necklace featuring several strings of pearls, in the garden of Clarence House over the summer.
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Spanish Royal Family 2018
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia posed alongside their daughters, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia. The card included the message, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019” and was signed by all four family members.
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Charles and Camilla 2017
Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, used a photo from a celebration for Camilla’s 70th birthday back in July.
“Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year,” the message read.
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William and Kate’s Family 2017
Their last Christmas as a family of four! Prince George and Princess Charlotte took center stage for the portrait, standing in front of their parents at home at Kensington Palace. All four are coordinating in blue ensembles, with Kate wearing a Catherine Walker suit she’s worn on several occasions.
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2016
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco chose a glamorous portrait to use for their annual holiday card in 2016 — and check out the sly cameo by Grace Kelly!
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Charles and Camilla 2016
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, chose a snap from their visit to Croatia to use for their holiday card in 2016.
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Monaco’s Royal Family 2015
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene released their first-ever family Christmas card in 2015, featuring an adorable shot of their twins — Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
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Jordan’s Royal Family 2015
Queen Rania shared an elegant photo from the family’s 2015 holiday card in December.
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Charles and Camilla 2015
The royal couple used a picture shot by a friend during a vacation in Scotland for their 2015 card.
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Spanish Royal Family 2015
Infanta Soféa and Leonor, Princess of Asturias, were clearly the stars of this year’s Christmas card from the Spanish royal family. And check out those matching braids!
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Charles and Camilla 2014
Charles and Camilla sent out this smiley greeting for Christmas back in 2014.
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Spanish Royal Family 2014
King Felipe’s coronation was one of the biggest Spanish royals moments in 2014, so it’s understandable that they chose to highlight the event in their holiday card.
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Charles and Camilla 2013
The royal couple looked like they were enjoying a day at the races in their cheerful 2013 card.
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Charles and Camilla 2012
Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, shared a snap from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 for their holiday note for that same year.
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Charles and Diana’s 1987 Card
Prince Charles and Princess Diana posed with a young Prince William and Prince Harry in this surprisingly casual (and totally ’80s) holiday greeting.
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Princess Elizabeth 1942
During World War II, then-Princess Elizabeth sent out a special Christmas card in 1942 to the Grenadier Guards regiment of the British Army.
Source: People
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