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When it comes to Christmas, it's hard to think of a family moreimbued with traditionsthan theBritish royals.
Take, for instance, theirannual Christmas morning walkaboutfromSandringham House in Norfolkto St. Mary Magdalene Church, which is a must-see moment every year, if for nothing else butthe fabulous winter coats.
After church services, the family enjoys continued celebrations, including a gag gift exchange, a game of backyard soccer and a turkey feast. ForPrince Williamspecifically, there's nowearing an ugly Christmas sweaterorElf on the Shelf, but he does watchElfevery year and appreciates the time he gets to spend with his extended family.
"Bringing the family together at Christmastime is always lovelybecause we're quite spread out doing our things a lot of time throughout the year. We get very few moments to actually come together," William said during a 2021 interview on Radio Marsden. "When I see my children meet up with my cousin's children, and they all have a wonderful time playing together, it's very special."
However, the holiday season starts well before Dec. 25 for the royals:King Charles III'sspeech is filmed before Christmas Day, andKate Middleton'sannual "Together at Christmas" carol servicetakes place in London in early December.
From firsts likeQueen Elizabeth's1957 televised Christmas broadcastand the King'sSandringham debut as monarchto a youngPrince Harry's adorable turn as an elf, here are some of the best royal holiday photos.
1944: Pantomime Time
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Princess Margaretand then-Princess Elizabeth got glammed up in intricate, elaborate gowns for their Christmas pantomime ofOld Mother Red Riding Boots, which they performed at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
The 1944 performance was the last of four World War II-era plays in which the sisters took part.Town & Countryreportedthat when Margaret was 11, she was inspired by a prior concert that benefitted the Royal Household Wool Fund and proposed a similar idea to Royal School headmaster Hubert Tannar, who ended up writing and producing each play. (The first three wereCinderella,Sleeping BeautyandAladdin.)
1957: Queen Elizabeth's First Televised Christmas Broadcast
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The Queen gave her first Christmas speech as monarch in 1952, while 1957 marked the first year the annual tradition, which she recorded at Sandringham, was fully televised.
1969: Delightful Decorating
Queen Elizabeth andPrince Philipput the finishing touches on the Christmas tree in a still from the 1969 ITV-BBC film documentaryThe Royal Family.
The late monarch enjoyed many holiday customs, includingpersonalized stockings for her beloved corgisand atraditional Christmas lunchwith her extended family.
1982: Prince William Brings the Joy
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In a sweet moment captured at Kensington Palace when William was six months old, then-Prince Charles can be seen holding onto his son as mom Diana — clad in a red-and-white dress — held up a teething ring.
The photo was taken on Dec. 22, 1982, marking the Windsors' first Christmas season as a family of three. Harry joined the clan less than two years later on Sept. 15, 1984.
1987: A Laugh with Santa Claus
Princess Dianasmiles with comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, who was dressed as Santa Claus, during a visit to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to bring the kids there presents. Diana was long associated with the specialist children's hospital and became its president in 1989.
1987: Prince on the Shelf
A young Harrydressed up as an elfto take part in his school's Nativity play in 1987. The following year, he was upgraded to the role of a shepherd.
This tradition has been carried on to the next generation. In 2017, William revealed that his son,Prince George,played the part of a sheepin his school's play.
1989: Matching Moments
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Diana, dressed in a white blouse topped with a black-and-red checkered blazer and dotted maxi skirt, held William and Harry's hands as she escorted them to the Christmas Carol Concert at Wetherby School in London.
The boys looked adorable in their matching school uniforms, wearing gray button-down shirts, red ties, black shorts and gray-and-red blazers with matching knee socks.
1990: Santa's Helpers
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You're never too royal to visit with Kris Kringle! During a trip to the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in London with their mom, brothers Harry and William climbed into Santa's sleigh.
1992: A Santa Sandwich
It's a Saint Nick double-take! Princess Diana was greeted by two Santas, Jeffrey Archer and Denis Healy, during a charity Christmas event at the Hilton Hotel in London.
1995: ACinderellaChristmas
Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugeniesported matching plaid outfits as they attended a Christmas pantomime ofCinderellain London with their mother,Sarah Ferguson(affectionately known as Fergie), who wore a festive red satin dress. The play was in support of Children in Crisis, the charity Fergie founded in 1993.
1997: First Christmas Without Princess Diana
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Harry and William joined their father for the walk back to the Sandringham Estate after Christmas morning church service. The brothers offered smiles to well-wishers, which was likely not easy, as it was their first Christmas without their mother. Princess Dianadied just months earlier in a car crashin Paris on Aug. 31, 1997.
1998: Chocolate for the Children
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The late monarch and theQueen Mumhelped Santa hand out chocolate bars to children at the Ascot races.
1998: Backstage Pass
Fergie made it a tradition to bring her daughters to the theater around the holidays. After the 1998 Christmas extravaganza at London's Theatre Royal, the trio even got to meet the performers.
1998: Grateful for Gifts
Harry and William once again took part in the tradition of attending the annual Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church andaccepted small gifts from the gathered well-wishers.
2010: Santa's Greetings!
Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, waved with Santa as she visited Bath, England, to turn on the Christmas lights.
2012: Holiday Away from Home
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The Duke of Sussex posed in a Santa hat as he stood outside the VHR (very high readiness) tent at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, where heserved as an Apache helicopter pilot/gunner.
2012: Wishing Everyone a Happy Christmas
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The Queenrecorded her annual Christmas messageto the Commonwealth in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London. It was momentous, as 2012 marked the first broadcast aired in 3D on Christmas Day. In the speech, she celebrated theOlympicand Paralympic athletes who had inspired Great Britain that year.
2014: Gift Wrapping Gal
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Kate put her gift-wrapping skills on display during a stop at the Northside Center for Child Development in N.Y.C., part of a three-dayofficial visit with husband Williamto New York and Washington.
2015: A Warm Embrace
Clad in a merry red ensemble, the Princess of Wales hugged a young boy after receiving a present at the Anna Freud Centre Family School's Christmas party. During the event, the then-Duchess of Cambridge joined groups of families in festive activities designed to help pupils at the London school reflect on the positive progress they were making in their social relationships and communication skills.
2016: Gingerbread Game Time
The Prince of Wales focused all his attention on decorating a gingerbread houseduring a charity Christmas partyhosted by the youth support service The Mix in London, which he attended with his wife Kate and brother Harry.
The gathering included volunteers from the trio'sHeads Togetherinitiative — themental health campaign they launchedin the spring of 2016. Not long after, all three started their Christmas break, with William and Kate taking their children, George andPrincess Charlotte,for theirfirst Christmas at the Middletons' family homein Bucklebury, in rural Berkshire, England. (Prince Louisdidn't join the family until April 23, 2018.)
2016: A Country Christmas
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Kate carried daughter Charlotte while William held onto son George's hand as they made their way to Christmas service at St. Mark's Church in Bucklebury.
2016: Candy Cane Cuties
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Royals have a sweet tooth, too! Following the service, George enjoyed a favorite holiday treat: a candy cane! Charlottewas given one as well, holding onto hers carefully as she exited the church hand in hand with her mom.
2017: Wish List for Santa
William shared then 4-year-old George's Christmas wish list with Santa when the future king visited a holiday market in Helsinki as part of his tour of Finland.
"I've seen you, and I had to give you this letter," William told Father Christmas,according toMetro, adding with a laugh, "He hasn't written down many requests, so I think one request is probably okay."
On the paper, George circled that he had been "nice," which William confirmed his son had been, and wrote that he hoped to get a police car for Christmas.
2017: Meghan's First Royal Christmas
Meghan Markle's royal Christmas debut! Monthsbefore her wedding to Harry, Meghanjoined the royals for Christmas Day serviceat St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2017. She was photographed walking in line and later standing with Kate, William and her fiancé.
In November 2018, a source told PEOPLE that the previous year, Meghan and Harry had enjoyed a memorable first Christmas together with Kate and William.
"They really loved Christmas, and all had a wonderful time," the source said of Meghan and Kate. "I think the two women got on — they are definitely not best friends, but it was a really special time for them all to spend together."
2018: The Fab Four Walkabout
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William, Kate, Meghan and Harry walked in line behind then-Prince Charles as theymade their way to the Christmas Day serviceat St. Mary Magdalene Church in 2018.
Along the route, Kate and Meghan — whowas then pregnantwith her and Harry's first child, sonPrince Archie— were seen chatting happily. Kate wore a festive red Alexander McQueen coat dress with a burgundy Jane Taylor headband and Gianvito Rossi pumps. Meghan opted for a deep navy dress and a Victoria Beckham coat with a matching fascinator.
2019: Walking Hand-in-Hand
George and Charlottemade their Christmas debut at Sandringhamin 2019, holding their parents' hands as they walked to church alongside the rest of the royal family.
2021: Candlelit Performance
Kate hosted her first Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 8, 2021, which was later broadcast on Christmas Eve. In a surprise move, sheaccompanied singer Tom Walker on the pianofor a performance of "For Those Who Can't Be Here."
2022: Leading the Masses
On their way to church on Christmas Day, the King and the Queen Consort led the charge for the first time since thestart of their new reign, reviving the annual tradition after it had been paused since 2019due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: Chatting with the Reverend
Princess Beatrice introduced her stepson,Christopher Woolf(a.k.a. "Wolfie"), to the royal family's holiday walk for the first time. After the church service, the young boy spoke with Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Williams, while Beatrice and her husbandEdoardo Mapelli Mozziobserved proudly.
2023: Strolling to Church
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En route to St. Mary Magdalene Church, the Prince and Princess of Wales locked hands with their children as they followed closely behind Charles and Camilla. Joining them wasMia Tindall, daughter of William's cousin,Zara Tindall, who held Louis' hand during their walk.
2024: King Charles' Christmas Broadcast
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The monarch continued the royal tradition with his third Christmas speech in 2024.
He filmed it at Fitzrovia Chapel, the former chapel of Middlesex Hospital in London, marking the first time in 18 years that the monarch's speech wasfilmed outside a royal residence.
The broadcast was aired following the royal family's annual walk to church in Sandringham and came at the close of what his son Williamdescribed as a "brutal" year, as both Charles and Kate had beendiagnosed with cancer.
2025: Mama and Mini Me
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Kate and her lookalike sonshared a sweet glanceat her "Together at Christmas" carol service at Westminster Abbey. The festive event was George, Charlotte and Louis'first joint outing in six monthsfollowingTrooping the Colourin June 2025.
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