A Look Back at the Royal Family's Christmas Cards Over the Past 100 Years

The Christmas Cards of the British Royal Family Over the Past 100 Years Showcase Various Styles.

For over 150 years, the practice of issuing Christmas cards has become an indispensable tradition for the British Royal Family.

Queen Victoria is credited with sending the first official Christmas card from the British Royal Family in 1843, and today, her descendants send out more than 750 cards each year.

Lucky recipients of the Christmas greetings from the monarch include family, friends, and some officials of the British government.

This year’s Christmas card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla features a photograph taken on the day of their coronation at Buckingham Palace in May 2023. Meanwhile, Prince William and Princess Kate chose a black-and-white photo where they are all smiles with their three children.

Below are some Christmas card images from the British Royal Family that have been preserved over the years, starting from World War I. They have become precious mementos, capturing unforgettable historical moments of the royal family.

Christmas 1914 was a bleak time for millions around the globe during World War I. To somewhat uplift the spirits of the public and soldiers, King George V and Queen Mary released a simple black-and-white photo. Instead of standing next to each other, they were photographed separately and not smiling.

The Christmas card photo from 1957 shows the late Queen Elizabeth II with her husband, Prince Philip, and their two children, along with the family pets.

The 1969 Christmas photo shows members of the British Royal Family in a cheerful mood, marking the end of the 1960s.

The British Royal Family shines in their Christmas card in 1972.

A more traditional photo pose as the ’70s began. The late Queen Elizabeth II stands out in a long green coat with her family, along with their beloved pets. However, one corgi’s head was “cut off” by the photographer.