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Royal family 2021 Christmas card photos from around the world

The British and European royals share their festive snaps

royal xmas cards
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
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cambridges summer christmas card© Kensington Palace

Every year we look forward to seeing the royals' annual Christmas card photos and 2021's selection certainly didn't disappoint.

While some families have chosen less traditional settings, like the British royals, the likes of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden have shared some very festive photos.

HELLO! takes a look at the British royal family and their European counterparts' official Christmas portraits. 

READ: Kate Middleton's Christmas Day regret revealed and it's so relatable

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a sweet snap from their family holiday in Petra, Jordan, taken earlier this summer. The country means a lot to Kate, who lived in Jordan during her early childhood. Prince George, eight, and Prince Louis, three, twin in polo shirts, while Princess Charlotte, six, is dressed in a summery checked dress. The portrait also showed a rare and subtle PDA between Prince William and Kate, as they placed their hands on one another's knees.

WATCH: The royal family on Christmas Day at Sandringham through the years

prince charles camilla card© Sam Hussein

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also chose an untraditional Christmas card photograph, which captured a heartwarming moment from this year's Royal Ascot. The lovely image was taken by royal photographer Sam Hussein, and shows Prince Charles sweetly helping his wife Camilla with her facemask - very much setting the picture in 2021.

MORE: Why the royal family open their presents on Christmas Eve

Keep clicking for more photos...

sophie wessex prince edward christmas card photo© Photo: Rex

The Earl and Countess of Wessex

The Earl and Countess of Wessex chose a photo taken by Shutterstock photographer, Tim Rooke, for their 2021 Christmas card. While the couple's children, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14, are not featured, it showed the couple enjoying a fun royal engagement in June at Forfar Golf Club in Scotland. 

MORE: Meghan Markle requested this unexpected Christmas present for Archie from the Queen

prince oscar princess estelle sweden© Crown Princess Victoria

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

While it isn't the Swedish royal family's official Christmas card photo for 2021, Crown Princess Victoria shared this sweet snap of her children, Princess Estelle, nine, and Prince Oscar, five. It showed the young royals beaming at the camera in front of a large Christmas tree adorned with red and white glass baubles and decorations. Little Oscar wears a Santa Claus costume, complete with a hat, while big sister Estelle holds a basket of traditional saffron buns. Sweden is among the countries to celebrate St Lucia's Day (or St. Lucy's Day) on 13 December, known as the festival of lights.

MORE: 8 bizarre Christmas gifts that royals have given each other

spanish royal family xmas card 2021© Photo: Getty Images

The Spanish royal family

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain posed for a family portrait with their daughters, Princess Leonor, 16, and Infanta Sofia, 14, front and centre. While the royal couple were dressed smart-casually in grey blazers, royal sisters Leonor and Sofia opted for cosy knits.

MORE: Why Kate Middleton was 'worried' about first Christmas with the Queen

queen rania christmas card 2021© Photo: Rex

Jordan's royal family

Queen Rania of Jordan shared this gorgeous family portrait with her husband, King Abdullah II and their four children, Crown Prince Al Hussein, Prince Hashem, Princess Iman, and Princess Salma. Her Majesty wrote in her Instagram caption: "May the threads of happiness, hope and good health weave together your New Year."

MORE: The gift the Queen gives her staff every Christmas revealed

belgian royal family xmas card 2021© Bas Bogaerts/Royal Palace, Belgium

Belgium's royal family

The Belgian royal family have reunited for the holidays, with Princess Elisabeth, 20, returning to the palace during a break from her studies at Oxford University's Lincoln College. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde proudly pose with their children, including Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, 18, Prince Emmanuel, 16, and Princess Eleonore, 13.

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