Skip to main contentSkip to footer

10 photos of the royals looking thrilled at Christmas to put a smile on your face

The Queen traditionally spends the festive season at Sandringham

festive royals
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
Share this:
queen christmas 2017© Photo: Getty Images

The royals are among the millions of people who have had to adjust their Christmas plans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

While the Queen and her family usually spend the festive period in Sandringham, this year the monarch will be staying at Windsor Castle with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

We'll miss seeing the royals walking to the traditional church service in Norfolk on Christmas Day, so we've found some of the most festive photos of Her Majesty, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and more, to remind us of happier times.

READ: 18 fabulous photos of the Queen and her family enjoying themselves at royal parties

We love how happy the Queen looks here during filming of her 2017 Christmas broadcast at Buckingham Palace. The monarch was pictured sat at her desk in the 1844 Room, surrounded by photos of her family members, including two of her great-grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and a portrait from her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

WATCH: Prince William and Kate take George, Charlotte and Louis on very festive outing

harry christmas hat© Photo: Getty Images

The palace released this festive snap of Prince Harry wearing a Christmas hat in December 2012, when he was serving as an Apache Helicopter Pilot in Afghanistan.

MORE: Most festive royal family Christmas card photos from around the world

Keep clicking for more festive photos of the royals...

kate christmas flowers© Photo: Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge looked delighted to receive a beautiful bouquet of red and white flowers as she walked to the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham in 2017. Kate, who wore a festive green and red tartan Miu Miu coat for the occasion, was pregnant with her third child Prince Louis at the time. 

MORE: 8 amazing photos of the royal family's last Christmas at Windsor Castle

princess charlotte xmas© Photo: Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Kate's family the Middletons for Christmas in 2016. A then 18-month-old Princess Charlotte looked adorable as she toddled out of the church service, clutching a striped candy cane treat.

MORE: Royal family Christmas quiz - test your knowledge on the Queen's festive traditions

sussexes xmas2018© Photo: Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex marked their first Christmas together as a married couple in 2018. Meghan was around four months pregnant with Archie as the pair walked to the Sandringham church service arm-in-arm.

kate christmas party 2015© Photo: Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge really enjoyed herself at the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party at Anna Freud Centre in 2015, where she played drums and helped children to make crafts.

MORE: The royal family's Christmas menu: breakfast, lunch, dinner AND afternoon tea

camilla reindeer© Photo: Getty Images

The Duchess of Cornwall met reindeers Dancer and Blitzen as she hosted her annual event to decorate the Clarence House Christmas tree with children and families supported by Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity in 2018.

charles father christmas© Photo: Getty Images

Prince Charles got to meet Father Christmas himself as he visited the Not Forgotten Association at St James's Palace in 2006.

cambridges christmas party© Photo: Getty Images

No Christmas party is complete without a flurry of snow and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge even had their own snowball fight after they hosted a Christmas party for military families at Kensington Palace in 2018.

queen philip christmas© Photo: Getty Images

In this vintage snap from 1969, the Queen and Prince Philip admire their decorated Christmas tree during the filming of a television special about life in the British royal family.

More Royalty

See more