38 photos show the royal family's Christmas cards over the last century

23:37 - 13 December 2023

For their 2023 Christmas card, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose a black-and-white portrait of the couple alongside their three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

For more than a century, members of the royal family have sent Christmas cards to their subjects.
Images used on the cards show historic events or candid moments between the royals.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2023 card features a black-and-white portrait of their family.

But photos on the royals' Christmas cards haven't always been so formal — over the decades, the images have provided glimpses into the family's lives, from snaps taken on vacations to candid moments between couples.

Take a look at photos that have graced the front of the royal family's Christmas cards over the last 100 years.

1914: King George V and his wife, Mary, sent these stoic portraits to British troops to send their "best wishes for Christmas."

1942: A decade before she would become their queen, Princess Elizabeth sent this card to members of the British Army.

1954: The image selected for the royal family's 1954 Christmas card showed Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles — now King Charles III — and Princess Anne.

1954: The image selected for the royal family's Christmas card showed Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles — now King Charles III — and Princess Anne.

1965: Members of the royal family delight over 1-year-old Prince Edward in this image taken at Windsor Castle.

1976: An image from this photo shoot was used on the card and shows the growing royal family.

1976: An image from this photo shoot, which shows the growing royal family, was used on their Christmas card in 1976.

1979: They selected a more posed family photo for their Christmas card in 1979.

1979: They selected a posed family photo for their Christmas card in 1979.

1984: An image from this family photo shoot was used for Charles and Diana's 1984 Christmas card. It shows Diana holding a newborn Prince Harry.

1984: An image from this family photo shoot was used for Charles and Diana's Christmas card. It shows Diana holding a newborn Prince Harry.

1987: Three years later, Diana and Charles shared another family portrait.

1987: Photographer Yousuf Karsh stands next to this portrait of the Queen and her grandchildren. The image appeared on their 1987 Christmas card.

1988: Charles and Diana are pictured with their growing boys.

1994: A card shows Charles, who separated from Diana in 1992, with their two sons.

1994: A card shows Charles, who had separated from Diana in 1992, with their two sons.

1998: A Christmas card sent to an employee of the Queen's Sandringham Estate showed the monarch with her children and grandchildren.

1999: The following year, the Queen sent a card featuring her mother.

1999: Charles put his arms around his sons in this photo on the front of his 1999 Christmas card.

2000: The following year, the three royals looked smart on the front of their Christmas card.

2003: Charles' card from 2003 shows a sweet moment with his sons.

2005: Charles and his new wife, Camilla, shared this image from their wedding day for their Christmas card.

2005: Charles and his then-new wife, Camilla, shared this image from their wedding day for their Christmas card.

2007: The Queen and her husband shared two photos on their Christmas card this year. First, a photo of the couple with their grandchildren.

2007: On the other side of the card, the Queen and Prince Philip were pictured with their children and their spouses.

2012: Charles and Camilla's holiday card featured a photograph taken during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

2012: The Duke of Edinburgh is seen presenting his wife with a trophy after her horse won the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in June 2012.

2013: Charles and his wife giggled together in the photo on their Christmas card.

2014: The following year, they shared a similarly happy photograph.

2015: They look at ease in this image taken in Scotland during their summer vacation.

2015: Prince William and Kate Middleton looked similarly content in their family portrait.

2016: Charles and Camilla celebrated their tour of Croatia with their 2016 holiday card.

2016: Princess Charlotte and Prince George were mesmerized by an entertainer during the family's tour of Canada.

2017: The Queen's card showed her feeding a banana to an elephant named Donna alongside Prince Philip.

2017: Charles and Camilla shared a photo from Camilla's private 70th birthday party.

2017: William and Kate also shared a more formal portrait.

2018: Charles and Camilla featured another sweet photo on their Christmas card.

2018: Prince Louis made his first Christmas-card appearance in this relaxed family portrait.

2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared this elegant black-and-white photo on their Christmas card.

2019: Charles and Camilla celebrated their historic trip to Cuba.

2020: For Prince William and Kate Middleton's official Christmas card, they shared a photo of their family taken outside their home in Norfolk.

2021: Charles and Camilla selected a candid photo that highlighted precautions the nation took against COVID-19.

2022: This year, Charles and Camilla released their first Christmas card as king and queen consort.

2022: Last year, Charles and Camilla released their first Christmas card as king and queen consort.

2023: This year's card featured a more formal photograph of William, Kate, and their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.