Let's look back at the British Royal Family's Christmas card series over the past 100 years

The British Royal family's Christmas cards over the past 100 years show many different styles .

For more than 150 years, issuing Christmas cards has become an indispensable tradition of the British Royal family.

Queen Victoria is credited with sending the first official postcard from the British Crown in 1843, and today her descendants send more than 750 cards a year.

Those lucky enough to receive Christmas cards from the monarch included family, friends and some British government officials.

This year's Christmas card of King Charles III and Queen Camilla features a photo taken on Buckingham Palace Coronation Day in May 2023. Meanwhile, Prince William and Princess Kate chose a monochrome photo in which they stood smiling brightly with their three children.

Below are some Christmas card photos of the British Royal family that have been kept for many years - starting from World War I. They have become precious souvenirs, capturing unforgettable historical moments of the royal family.

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Christmas 1914 was a bleak time for millions across the globe as World War I broke out. To somewhat calm the mood of the people 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 without smiling.

Picture 2 of Let's look back at the British Royal Family's Christmas card series over the past 100 years
The 1957 Christmas card photo shows the late Queen Elizabeth II posing with her husband, Prince Philip, and their two children, including the family's pet dogs.

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Christmas photos of 1969 show members of the British Royal Family in a joyful and excited mood, marking the end of the 60s.

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The British Royal family beamed on a Christmas card photo in 1972.

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A more traditional photo pose as the 70s dawned. The late Queen Elizabeth II stood out in a long green coat standing with her family, as well as their beloved dogs. However, a corgi dog had its head "cut off" by the photographer.

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In the 1980s, Prince William and Prince Harry posed with their parents, King Charles III and Princess Diana, in a sweet family photo.

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Another photo was also taken in the 1980s. The card contained Christmas and New Year greetings from Charles and Diana.

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Entering the new millennium, the Christmas card chosen by King Charles II was his wedding photo with Queen Camilla.

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The king and queen smiled brightly in their 2013 Christmas card.

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Welsh family's 2023 Christmas card photo.

Update 27 March 2024