It is a beloved tradition that dates back as far as 1923: the royal Christmas card.
A much-anticipated moment for royal fans worldwide, the annual season’s greetings are unveiled in the build up to the festivities by key senior royals, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Yet while they are designed to spread festive cheer, there is a small and seemingly bizarre detail to the British Royal Christmas cards that has been noted over the last 102 years.
Rather than a scene of snowy mountains and Christmas trees, the image on the front of the joyful cards typically captures the royals against a sunny backdrop without a single winter coat in sight.
However, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, the Firm’s use of a brighter and less winter-themed card is deliberately symbolic, with a warmer image intended to convey optimism and strength as we enter into the new year.
‘A royal card is invariably a photograph of senders. If they looked kitted for harsh weather, it might be viewed as symbolic, especially if the royal family has had a tough year,’ Mr Fitzwilliams explained.
Describing the royal card as ‘an important public relations statement’, he added that the Firm undoubtedly ‘take a lot of care in choosing their cards’ and that the message conveyed ‘must be positive’.
This week, the Prince and Princess of Wales’s festive card was unveiled to the public, showcasing the royal couple with their three children: Princes George, 12 and Louis, seven, alongside 10-year-old Princess Charlotte.
This week, the Prince and Princess of Wales’s festive card was unveiled to the public – with Prince William and Princess of Wales captured beaming while sat on the grass amid spring daffodils with their three children
The heartwarming image, taken by Josh Shinner in Norfolk, shows Kate and William beaming while sat on the grass amid spring daffodils with their three children.
Delighting royal fans around the globe, the photograph appeared to have been taken in April and was posted on Kensington Palace’s social media with the simple caption: ‘Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas’.
Described by Mr Fitzwilliams as the ‘perfect example of a Christmas card’, he told the Daily Mail that the joyous image ‘uses rural settings to convey charm and good tidings’.
While it does not necessarily scream Christmas, it offers a touching insight into the family’s close bond, with Charlotte seen resting her head on her father’s shoulder and holding onto his arm, while a young Louis is sat between William’s legs.
‘A daffodil covered backdrop in the countryside has the feel of healing and rebirth which is an integral part of the festive season, especially when Catherine, who is promoting the merits of outdoor life to children, is in remission from cancer,’ Mr Fitzwilliams added.
Last year, the Wales’s Christmas card held extra special poignance – with the touching image a still from the heartwarming video released in September where Kate powerfully revealed that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Captured in Norfolk in the summer of 2024, the Prince and Princess of Wales were captured smiling broadly with their children, who all donned shorts and t-shirts. Meanwhile, Kate opted for a white, floral-print midi dress by American designer Veronica Beard.
The Wales’s choice to move away from the posed line-ups of the past towards a more relaxed style of photograph gave the nation a heartwarming insight into the young family amid what had been a particularly challenging year.
Last year, the Wales’s Christmas card image was captured in Norfolk in the summer. The Prince and Princess of Wales smiled proudly alongside their three children, who all donned shorts and t-shirts, while Kate opted for a white, floral-print midi dress
King Charles and Queen Camilla released their Christmas card on December 6 which features a photograph of the couple taken in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky, the British Ambassador’s residence in Rome, during their Majesties’ State Visit to Italy
In 2024, the monarch’s royal Christmas card was also captured in April – with the bright foliage behind the royal couple seen in bloom and featured vibrant pink and purple flowers
However, the use of non-festive images is not strictly reserved for the Wales family, but is also reflected in King Charles and Queen Camilla’s 2025 season’s greetings.
Released on December 6, the heartfelt card features a photograph of the couple taken in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky, the British Ambassador’s residence in Rome, during their Majesties’ State Visit to Italy.
Captured in April to commemorate the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary, the image emulates the warmth of the Wales’s card, with Mr Fitzwilliams noting that the ‘charming image’ is ‘naturally taken in fine weather’.
In 2024, the monarch’s royal Christmas card was also captured in April – with the bright foliage behind the royal couple seen in bloom and featured vibrant pink and purple flowers.
During the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she became renowned for her beloved Christmas cards and, throughout the years, used an eclectic range of images to wish the nation good tidings and Christmas cheer.
Described by Mr Fitzwilliams as a ‘kaleidoscope of a unique reign’, Her Majesty was said to have mastered the art of using ‘a marvelous mix of the formal and informal, indoor and outdoor’, with the images typically taken in the summer months.
Across almost every card, there was one resounding similarity: ‘Bad weather is absent!’ noted the royal expert.
Mr Fitzwilliams also suggested that by ensuring the Firm’s season greetings do not focus too heavily on the festive season or ‘traditional snowy scene’, the royals ‘avoid the cliches associated with Christmas’ to create a timeless masterpiece.
Earlier this month, royal fans praised Princess Anne’s humility after images of her and husband Sir Timothy Laurence’s Christmas card were shared. The informal image of the couple riding in a carriage was taken during their landmark visit to Sark in May
During the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she became renowned for her beloved Christmas cards, with the images often captured in the summer months. Pictured: the Queen with Prince Philip, Charles, Princess Anne, former Prince Andrew and Prince Edward for the 1972 card
In 1957, the image on the front of the royal season’s greeting was also captured in the summer, with the Queen captured outside alongside Philip, Anne and a five-year-old Charles
‘Christmas cards are a tradition, and traditions should periodically be altered or they can become stale,’ he explained.
Despite stepping back from their royal duties in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have continued the tradition of releasing a Christmas card each year.
One year after leaving the royal family behind, the Sussexes’ 2021 Christmas card revealed Princess Lilibet’s face for the first time. Rather than a woolly jumper, Archie wore a breezy white shirt while Harry and Meghan were barefoot.
To date, a season’s greetings has not yet been released by the pair. However, their 2024 card featured several images from their four-day visit to Colombia in August of that year.
Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, were faced away from the camera – a stark contrast to previous years where their children were a key focus.
However, despite offering intimate insight into the couple’s life in the States, Mr Fitzwilliams added that the unusual choice to use multiple images may have detracted from its poignance.
‘Clutter should be avoided,’ he remarked. ‘Harry and Meghan’s choice last year had the images fighting each other for space’.
Despite stepping back from their royal duties in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have continued the annual Christmas card tradition. Their 2024 card featured several images from their four-day visit to Colombia in August of that year
One year after leaving the royal family behind, Harry and Meghan’s 2021 Christmas card revealed Princess Lilibet’s face for the first time. Rather than a woolly jumper, Archie wore a breezy white shirt while Harry and Meghan were barefoot
Earlier this month, royal fans praised Princess Anne’s humility after images of her and husband Sir Timothy Laurence’s Christmas card were shared on the social media accounts of Dr Jeannette Young, Governor of Queensland.
Featuring an informal image of the couple riding in a carriage during their landmark visit to Sark in May, many noted the omission of Anne’s ‘princess’ title in the sign-off.
Mr Fitzwilliams agreed with such sentiment, adding that the informal photograph of the couple sets the correct example for a royal Christmas card versus Meghan Markle’s continued use of her titles despite quitting the Firm.
‘It’s the wrong way round, and it’s ridiculously pretentious,’ said the royal expert.
