Whether it's matching Christmas jumpers, pictures of your cousin's graduation, or snaps of the beloved family pet, the annual Christmas card is a time honoured tradition. And no one does tradition like the Royals.
But of all the Royal Christmas cards released, whose came out on top this year?
Fuss-free: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence
The Princess of Understatement, Princess Anne is a woman of substance and duty, echoed in her choice of Christmas card. She released her card this year with very little fanfare, with The Reliant Motors Club, to which she belongs, sharing it on their social media for her loyal fans.
What to read next
The message read “With Best Wishes for a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year” across from a lovely shot of herself and husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, smiling in full regalia during Garter Day back in June.
A politely poignant choice, since the couple very recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary.
The Instagram-perfect e-card: Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their signature e-card yesterday, featuring a swanky dark-green background and sleek white snow.
The message from across the pond was wishing “you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”
Below, the pair broke from tradition and included a whole grid of Instagram-feed-worthy shots. Their square pictures included snaps from their travels over the past year and one beautifully lit shot of the Duke and Duchess’s children, five-year-old Prince Archie and three-year-old Princess Lilibet, running into their parents' open arms surrounded by the family dogs – Pula the black lab and rescue beagles, Guy and Mia. The Insta-perfect family picture.
Prince Harry has been vocal about his reluctance to share pictures of his children and protecting their privacy. This is the first new photo of the children that has been shared by the Sussexes since their Netflix docuseries in December 2022.
Perfectly poised: King Charles and Queen Camilla
This year the King and Queen posed for a relatively subdued portrait in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, taken this April. With King Charles wearing a sharp grey suit and Camilla in a striking blue dress, it was a more casual affair than last year’s card, which featured them in full coronation regalia.
Matchy-matchy: The Prince and Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales is a virtuoso when it comes to co-ordinated family outfits and family photo shoots. Last year’s black and white studio portrait, shot by photographer Josh Shinner, showed the whole family in matching white button-downs.
This year, however, has been a tough one for the Waleses – and the Royal family as a whole.
A toll which perhaps can be seen in the tardy release of the card (with six days before Christmas they just made the last post) and in the Prince and Princess's choice of a warmer, more relaxed family picture (see below.)
With the family all in casual clothing, it is a softer, much more intimate choice than the usual glossy photoshoots we are used to from the Princess of Wales, who often takes the pictures herself.
Gone are the co-ordinated looks and sharp, high-res images. This picture almost looks as though it would be at home on the fridge door – though perhaps a far more sophisticated fridge than yours or mine.
And yet, it is hands down the most charming they've released yet. Proof that it's hard to beat a good old-fashioned family snap.
