40 of the best royal family Christmas cards through the years

Lydia WarrenDec 12, 2020, 19:01 IST

In 1979, the royal family featured this portrait on their Christmas card.PA Images via Getty Images

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 intimate moments between the royals.
The photos include a portrait of the Queen aged 16, Princess Diana holding a newborn Prince Harry, and a mesmerized Princess Charlotte watching a children's entertainer during a party.
For their 2018 Christmas card, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a never-before-seen photo from their wedding day.
The royals are yet to release their cards this year.

For more than 100 years, members of the British royal family have been sending Christmas cards to wish their subjects the best for the holiday season.

Photographs selected for the front of these cards have charted the royal family's new additions and altered relationships. From a black-and-white portrait of King George V to a candid portrait of Prince William with his children, the Christmas cards have also captured the changing face of the royal family through the generations.

Keep scrolling to see the beautiful photographs shared by the royal family to wish their subjects a "Happy Christmas" each year.

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

A Christmas card from the king and queen in 1914. The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images

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

A Christmas card from then Princess Elizabeth. Express/Express/Getty Images

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

The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh and their two children. PA Images via Getty Images

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

The royal family in 1965. AP

1968: A few years later, the Queen and Prince Philip shared another charming family photo.

Prince Philip and the Queen with their four children. Photo of card by: Cathy Shatka / a*royal*gem

1971: Another family portrait was shared on the 1971 holiday greeting.

The Queen and her family. Photo of card by: Cathy Shatka / a*royal*gem

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

The Queen and her family. Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

1978: The Queen featured her beloved corgis.

The Queen and Prince Philip. Photo of card by: Cathy Shatka / a*royal*gem

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

In 1979, the royal family featured this portrait on their Christmas card. PA Images via Getty Images

1981: On her Christmas card, the Queen celebrated the wedding of her oldest son, Prince Charles, to Diana Spencer.

The Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Philip. Photo of card by: Cathy Shatka / a*royal*gem

1984: An image from this family photo shoot was used for the Prince and Princess of Wales' 1984 Christmas card.

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and their children. AP Photo

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

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and their sons. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

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

Yousuf Karsh with his royal family portrait. PA Images via Getty Images

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

Charles and Diana's Christmas card, 1988. GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images

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

Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

The Queen and Prince Philip's Christmas card, 1998. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

The Queen and Prince Philip's Christmas card, 1999. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

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

Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Prince William. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

Prince William, Prince Harry, and Prince Charles. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

The photo was taken at the couple's April wedding. HUGO BURNAND/AFP via Getty Images

2006: The Queen and her husband shared a more traditional photo.

The Queen and Prince Philip. Photo of card by: Cathy Shatka / a*royal*gem

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

The Queen, Prince Philip, and their grandchildren. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

The Queen, Prince Philip, their children, and their children's spouses in 2007. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Lewis Whyld / Clarence House - WPA Pool/Getty Images

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.

Prince Philip and the Queen. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

2013: Prince Charles and his wife share a joke in this photo on this Christmas card.

Prince Charles and Camilla at Royal Ascot. John Stillwell - WPA Pool / Getty Images

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

Prince Charles and Camilla, pictured on their 2014 Christmas card. WPA Pool / Getty Images

2015: Prince Charles and Camilla look at ease in this image taken in Scotland during their summer vacation.

Prince Charles and Camilla. WPA Pool / Getty Images

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

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Chris Jelf, Kensington Palace

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

Prince Charles and Camilla in Tvrda, Croatia. Getty Images via Clarence House

2016: The Queen's Christmas card showed her 90th birthday celebrations.

The Queen and Prince Philip. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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

The family is pictured at a children's party for military families in Victoria, Canada, in September 2016. Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images

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

The Queen and Prince Philip. Courtesy Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

2017: The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall shared a photo from Camilla's private 70th birthday party.

A card from Prince Charles and Camilla hangs in a tree at Clarence House. WPA Pool/Getty Images

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

Prince William, Duchess Catherine, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

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

HUGO BURNAND/AFP via Getty Images

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

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Louis, Charlotte, and George. Matt Porteous/Kensington Palaca

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

Prince Harry shares a tender moment with his new wife, Meghan Markle, on their wedding day. Chris Allerton/PA

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

Charles and Camilla's 2019 card. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

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40 of the best royal family Christmas cards through the 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 the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne.

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

1968: A few years later, the Queen and Prince Philip shared another charming family photo.

1971: Another family portrait was shared on the 1971 holiday greeting.

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

1978: The Queen featured her beloved corgis.

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

1981: On her Christmas card, the Queen celebrated the wedding of her oldest son, Prince Charles, to Diana Spencer.

1984: An image from this family photo shoot was used for the Prince and Princess of Wales' 1984 Christmas card.

1987: Three years later, Princess Diana and Prince 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 Prince Charles, who separated from Diana in 1992, with their two sons.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2006: The Queen and her husband shared a more traditional photo.

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: Prince 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: Prince Charles and his wife share a joke in this photo on this Christmas card.

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

2015: Prince Charles and Camilla look at ease in this image taken in Scotland during their summer vacation.

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

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

2016: The Queen's Christmas card showed her 90th birthday celebrations.

2016: Princess Charlotte and Prince George are 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.

2017: The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall shared a photo from Camilla's private 70th birthday party.

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

2018: Prince 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: Prince Charles and Camilla celebrated their historic trip to Cuba.