BREAKING ROYAL SHOCKER: Two Christmas Cards, One Royal Message — And Britain Can’t Stop Talking About It! The 2025 Christmas cards from Prince William & Princess Catherine AND King Charles & Queen Camilla have just been released — and within minutes, social media exploded. Two completely different moods, two strikingly symbolic images… and a hidden detail on the Wales family’s card that fans say “changes EVERYTHING.” Meanwhile, the King’s card carries an emotional nod to his health journey that left many viewers in tears. What do these cards really reveal about the future of the monarchy — and why are royal watchers calling this “the most meaningful Christmas release in decades”? Full story
See The Royal Family Christmas Cards Through the Years
The tradition of the royal holiday greeting has changed over time.
The release of the royal Christmas card has come to be a much-beloved holiday tradition. Read on to see the evolution of the annual greeting, which has grown to include not only a new photograph but also a sweet message for warm wishes in the new year.
2025
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s 2025 Christmas card featured a photo taken during their trip to Rome in April. The couple previously shared this photo for their 20th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated in the Eternal City during their State Visit to Italy.
Archewell
2024
Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2024 Christmas card featured six photos, including a rare snap of their kids. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year,” the Sussexes wrote.
2024
Kensington Palace
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s 2024 Christmas card featured a photo of the family of five taken at their home in Norfolk over the summer. It previously released in September when Kate announced she had finished chemotherapy.
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2024
Millie Pilkington for Buckingham Palace
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s card this year featured a portrait of the couple taken in the gardens of Buckgingham Palace in April.
2024
WPA Pool//Getty Images
Princess Anne’s annual Christmas card was a snap of her and her husband on Garter Day 2024.
Handout//Getty Images
2023
The Waleses went classic and minimalist in their 2023 holiday card, opting for a black and white shot taken by photographer Josh Shinner of them all gathered together, wearing matching button downs.
Screenshot/Archewell
2023
Meghan and Harry chose to use a photo from the Invictus Games for their 2023 holiday card, writing, “We wish you a very happy holiday season. Thanks for all the support in 2023!”
HUGO BURNAND//Getty Images
2023
Like many of us, King Charles and Queen Camilla chose a photo from a big family celebration for their 2023 holiday card. Unlike many of us, they selected a portrait taken by Hugo Burnand in the Throne Room at the Palace following their coronation on May 6, 2023. Like the previous year’s card, it read “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”
2022
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted for a recent photograph for their annual Christmas card, choosing an image from the Ripple of Hope Award ceremony in early December 2022.
“From our family to yours, on behalf of our teams at The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace, and a very happy new year!” the Sussexes wrote.
2022
Matt Porteous
For their first Christmas as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate shared a brand new photo of their family of five, taken by royal family photographer Matt Porteous earlier this year in Norfolk. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis look all grown up!
2022
JONATHAN BRADY//Getty Images
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s holiday card featured a sweet snap of them from the Braemar Gathering in Scotland, which took place just a few days before Queen Elizabeth passed away.
Photo by Alexi Lubomirski, Copyright owned by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ©2021.
2021
Harry and Meghan’s 2021 Christmas card also marked the first time the couple has shared a photo of their daugher Lili with the public.
2021
Handout//Getty Images
Will and Kate shared a vacation photo in their Christmas card this year, from a family trip to Jordan.
Twitter / Mayhew
2020
Harry and Meghan opted for an illustrated holiday greeting in 2020; they first revealed their sweet message via the Mayhew Twitter account.
2020
Clarence House
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, released a sweet photo to mark the holidays.
2020
Kensington Palace//Getty Images
The Cambridge family released an adorable, rustic photo to celebrate Christmas. Louis, in particular, seems to be getting into the holiday spirit!
2019
WPA Pool//Getty Images
Charles and Camilla’s card this year celebrates the royal couple’s historic visit to Cuba.
Chris Allerton
2018
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised fans, when they used a new photograph from their wedding reception at Frogmore House for their 2018 Christmas card.
2018
Matt Porteous
The 2018 card from the Cambridges shows a more casual side of the family, and was taken at their home at Anmer Hall.
2018
Hugo Burnand
Charles and Camilla’s Christmas 2018 card features a photo taken of the couple earlier this summer in the garden of Clarence House.
2017
Twitter
2017’s official Christmas card from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall features a photograph taken by Hugo Burnand during Camilla’s private 70th birthday party.
Getty Images
2017
Will and Kate pose with George and Charlotte in a new portrait taken by photographer Chris Jackson for their 2017 holiday card.
2016
Getty
This candid shot features the royal family during their tour of Victoria, BC.
2015
Chris Jelf /Kensington Palace//Getty Images
Kensington Palace shared this lovely shot of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marking their first Christmas as a family of four.
2014
John Stillwell + WPA Pool//Getty Images
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, highlighted the Invictus Games in their holiday card back in 2014. This games is an international sports competition for wounded servicemen, started by Prince Harry.
2013
John Stillwell + WPA Pool//Getty Images
This shot of the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles is sweet and silly, showcasing the pair at the Royal Ascot.
2005
Getty
This shot, from the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla, was used for the newlyweds’ Christmas card and features Princes Harry and William looking quite dashing, as well as Camilla’s children Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles.
1999
Getty
A personal holiday note written by Charles to William Tallon, a staff member of the Queen Mother’s at Clarence House, features the Prince of Wales with his two grown sons.
1998
Getty Images
Warm wishes from the whole family in 1998.
1995
AOP
In 1995, William and Harry posed with their mother, Diana. Charles and Diana had separated in 1992 and sent out their own cards each holiday season.
1993
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Charles and Diana separated in 1992, so a card with just the Prince of Wales and his sons Harry and William sufficed the following year.
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1990
A candid shot from 1990 features the Queen and Prince Philip at ease in plaid.
1989
AP
In 1989, the Queen and Prince Philip posed for a black-and-white picture during a trip to Sark, Guernsey.
1988
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Charles, Diana, William, and Harry were photographed at the stables in 1988.
1987
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty
The young Princes William and Harry posed with their parents in the card from 1987.
1984
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In 1984, the addition of Prince Harry completed this family foursome.
1982
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Good wishes from Charles, Diana, and the newborn Prince William in 1982.
1981
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To commemorate their marriage, Charles and Diana sent out this portrait from their wedding day in 1981.
1979
Dave Thompson/PA Wire//AP
The 1979 card got back to basics. Not one to forego color, the Queen sported kelly green and Princess Anne followed suit with a bright blue scarf. On the left behind Edward, stands Princess Anne’s son toddler Peter Phillips in a red coat. On the righthand side we can see one of the Queen’s famous corgis!
1969
Dave Thompson/PA Wire//AP
A cheekier card than years past, the 1969 holiday message features the windblown royal family around a speed boat.
1965
Dave Thompson/PA Wire//AP
In 1965, the royal family welcomed Prince Edward and card featured the larger group smiling around his carriage.
Dave Thompson/PA Wire//AP
1957
As serene as a watercolor, this portrait of the Queen and her two children is more candid than the previous cards, perhaps sparking a new tradition we see in more recent photos.
1955
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Queen Elizabeth II poses with Prince Philip and their two children, Charles and Anne.
1942
Express/Express/Getty
Keeping with her grandparents’ tradition, then-Princess Elizabeth sent cards to the troops during WWII.
The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images
1914
Queen Elizabeth II’s grandparents Queen Mary and King George V sent out this card–and their blessing–to the troops involved in WWI
