In pictures: Memorable royal Christmas moments over the years

A look back at some nostalgic and memorable Christmas moments for the royal family.

Published Dec 23, 2018

Members of the royal family traditionally exchange gifts at dinner on Christmas Eve, before attending a church service at St Mary Magdalene on the royal estate in Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Here, we take a look back at how they’ve celebrated in previous years, including the Queen giving her first Christmas broadcast in 1952, Diana, Princess of Wales turning on the Bond Street lights in 1993 and the Duchess of Cambridge taking part in drumming therapy with children in 2015.

Sandrignham Royal family at Christmas — The Queen Mother is presented with a bouquet at Sandringham House in 1991 with the Queen, Diana, Princess of Wales and other royal family members (PA)

Royals attends Christmas Day Church service — Meghan Markle leaves on Christmas Day in 2017, five months before her wedding (PA)

Queen’s Christmas broadcast — The Queen at Buckingham Palace after recording her 2014 Christmas Day television broadcast to the Commonwealth (PA)

Prince Charles at Xmas service — The Prince of Wales and sons Harry and William on the Sandringham estate on Christmas Day in 1997 (PA)

Royal visit to the Anna Freud Centre — The Duchess of Cambridge creates a Christmas collage with children at the Anna Freud Centre in London in 2015 (PA)

DIANA/BOND ST/XMAS LIGHTS — Diana, Princess of Wales arrives at Bond Street in London to turn on the Christmas lights in 1993 (PA)

Charles visit to Bedfordshire — The Prince of Wales looks at Christmas trees at St Paul’s Church in Bedford in 2013 (PA)

Clarence House Christmas tree — The Duchess of Cornwall with a girl supported by Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity at Clarence House in December 2017 (PA)