The Joyous Evolution of the Royal Family's Holiday Greetings
Step into the magical world of the Royal Family's holiday cards spanning decades! Delight in the heartwarming snapshots capturing the festive spirit from the past century to the present day
The royal family of Britain has been sharing holiday joy with their festive season's greetings cards. Prince William and Duchess Kate have made it a tradition to capture their growing family in these special cards, especially since their 2011 marriage. The couple, who have children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, recently shared a 2021 festive photo on Instagram, expressing their delight in sharing a new image of the family for this year's Christmas card.
In the sweet snap, William and Kate matched in green while their children kept it casual with their blue and camouflage outfits.
Deal of the Day
Hours Left! Lift and Sculpt Your Skin With This Unparalleled Set for 35% Off
View Deal
Scroll down to revisit the most merry royal holiday cards:
Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN
Royal Family’s Merriest Holiday Cards Through the Years
Britain’s beloved royal family has been spreading holiday cheer over the years through their festive season’s greetings cards.
After their 2011 wedding, Prince William and Duchess Kate have often taken advantage of special occasions to capture photos of their growing family. This year, they shared a festive 2021 photo on Instagram, showcasing how much their children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis - have grown. The couple wrote, "Delighted to share a new image of the family, which features on this year’s Christmas card."
In the charming photo, William and Kate wore matching green outfits, while their children opted for casual blue and camouflage attire.
Scroll down to revisit the most merry royal holiday cards:
Credit: The Print Collector / Heritage-Images
1914
King George V and Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth’s grandparents, sent this elegant card to British World War I soldiers.
Credit: Express/Express/Getty Images
1942
Then-Princess Elizabeth, inspired by her grandparents, shared sweet words with the British army’s Grenadier Guards regiment during World War II.
Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN
1987
The late Princess Diana and Prince Charles posed alongside their sons, Prince Harry and Prince William.
Credit: 2012 Clarence House
2012
The Prince of Wales and Camilla waved to fans during the most wonderful time of the year.
Credit: 2013 Getty Images
2013
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla stunned in regal attire for their annual card.
Credit: 2014 Clarence House
2014
The royal pair were all smiles in the cute and candid snapshot.
Credit: 2015 Clarence House
2015
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall held each other close during the holiday season.
Credit: Clarence House
2016
The prince and his second wife grinned in their winter coats.
Credit: Chris Jackson/Kensington Palace/Getty Images
2017
Prince William and Duchess Kate smiled sweetly next to Prince George and Princess Charlotte. They have since welcomed Prince Louis.
Credit: Clarence House
2017
The duo wished their loved ones well.
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com
2018
Charles and Camilla wished everyone a “very Happy Christmas and New Year” in their 2018 Christmas card.
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com
2018
Harry and Duchess Meghan, who tied the knot in May 2018, shared a never-before-seen photo from their nuptials in honor of their first Christmas as a married couple.
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com
2018
William, Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis looked cute and causal in their first Christmas card as a family of five.
Credit: Ramon Espinosa/AP/Shutterstock
2019
The royal Christmas card featured a photo of Charles and Camilla during their visit to Cuba earlier that year. The image, shared on December 20 on Clarence House's Instagram page, showcased the couple riding in a vintage, stylish car.
Credit: Sussex Royal
2019
A then-7-month-old Archie was front and center in Harry and Meghan’s 2019 card, which dropped a month before they announced they were stepping away from their royal duties.
Credit:
2019
William and Kate posed on a motorbike and sidecar with their three little ones for their 2019 card.
Credit: Matt Porteous/The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace/PA/WPA Pool
2020
William and Kate stood outside with their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, for their 2020 family photo. Louis, who was 2 years old at the time, captured everyone's attention with his infectious laughter in the center of the picture.
Credit: Courtesy Clarence House/Twitter
2020
Charles and Camilla posed in their garden in Scotland for their 2020 card.
Credit: Mayhew
2020
In 2020, Harry and Meghan collaborated with the animal charity Mayhew for their card, featuring the couple, 19-month-old Archie, and their two dogs. The couple expressed their support for various charities, including a local California organization aiding homeless families, two UK patronages, and a memorial fund in Uganda focused on education and poverty alleviation.
Credit: Kensington Palace/PA/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
2021
George, Charlotte and Louis looked all grown up in their family's annual Christmas card pic.
Credit: Sam Hussein/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
2021
Charles helped Camila adjust her face masks in their Christmas card, sent amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Credit: Photo by Alexi Lubomirski
2021
The first card from Harry and Meghan as a family of four has been unveiled by a Veteran’s charity named Team Rubicon. The photo, captured at their Santa Barbara, California, residence, also served as the debut public image of their daughter, Lili.
"Happy Holidays. 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," the duo penned in their card. "Looking ahead to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to various organizations that support and safeguard families – from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave."
Credit: Jonathan Brady/AP/Shutterstock
2022
Charles and Camilla sent their first Chirstmas card since becoming king and queen consort.
Credit: The Mega Agency
2022
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked joyful as they held hands with their three children. The royal family all wore coordinating outfits in different tones of blue to mark the occasion.
Credit: Archewell Foundation
2022
Harry and Meghan delighted their supporters by selecting a snapshot from their December attendance at the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award Gala for their holiday card, which notably did not feature Archie and Lili as it had in the previous year.
Credit: Josh Shinner
2023
The Prince and Princess of Wales matched their kids in white button-down shirts for their annual family portrait.
Credit: Buckingham Palace/Hugo Burnand/PA/INSTAR Images
2023
Charles and Camilla used a coronation photo for their Christmas card later that year.
