Photos Of The Royal Family At Christmas — Then And Now -- Show That They're Really Nothing Like Us
What the royal family does at Christmas is… unlike anything we do during the holidays, and these photos are proof.
Royals, they’re hardly #justlikeus.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to gawk at how they spend their holiday season. They’ve been putting on a show for us for decades, from the days when Queen Elizabeth was still a princess, to baby Prince Harry and later toddler Princess Charlotte.
So if sparkly vintage photos of the people you love to hate are your thing, look for no further. We got you covered.
And so it begins…
1929: Princess Elizabeth on the platform at King’s Cross station, about to depart with her Royal grandparents for Christmas holidays at Sandringham.
Edward G. Malindine/Topical Press Agency/Getty
1934: Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose, of England, with their mother, the Duchess of York, pictured arriving at the Royal Box at the Albert hall, London, England, recently, when the two Princess, for the first time, sang Christmas carols at a public concert.
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1934: Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Watch the Pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’ at the Lyceum Theatre London They Are Accompanied by Their Parents the Duke and Duchess of Yor.
Historia/Shutterstock
1956: A laughing Princess Anne sits with her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Charles in a car taking them from Buckingham Palace to King’s Cross Station, London. They were on their way to Sandringham for the Christmas holidays.
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1969: Princess Margaret with her two children Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones at Windsor Castle on Christmas Eve.
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1969: Christmas Day At Windsor Castle Photographed Together For The First Time Are The Ten Royal Children Pictured On The East Terrace At Windsor Castle Christmas Day After The Morning.
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1971: Queen Elizabeth II looking at a photograph album with her sons Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward, December 1971. Footage of this scene was used in the Queen’s Christmas Broadcast of 1971, to illustrate the theme of family.
Hulton Archive/Getty
1978: The Queen, together with her grandson Peter Phillips, and his mother, Princess Anne, during the 1978 Christmas ay Television broadcast.
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Enter Prince William and Prince Harry…
1982: Princess Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales pose with their baby son Prince William during the Christmas season at Kensington Palace on December 01, 1982 in London, England.
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1982: Prince William Of Wales Photographed At Kensington Palace In London.
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1987: Prince Harry arriving at school dressed as Pixie for Christmas play
Prince Harry’s school play, London, Britain.
Carraro/Beirne/Shutterstock
1988: Prince Harry Dressed As A Shepherd For The Christmas Play At School.
Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty
1988: Prince William and Zara Phillips
Christmas Day Service at Sandringham, Norfolk, Britain.
Today/Shutterstock
1988: Prince William Trying On A Fireman’s Helmet During A Photocall Held At The Sandringham Museum Of Royal Vehicles And Cars.during The Christmas Holidays At Sandringham.
Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty
Late 1980s: Princess Diana and Princes with Father Christmas
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1990: PRINCE HARRY AND PRINCE WILLIAM
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1990: PRINCE WILLIAM (RIGHT) AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER PRINCE HARRY MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS Martin Keene/PA Images/PA Images/Getty
1995: Duchess Of York With Her Daughters Princess Beatrice And Princess Eugenie Attending Christmas Pantomime ‘Cinderella’ In Aid Of ‘children In Crisis’ Of Which The Duchess Is Patron.
Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty
1997: Prince William, and Prince Harry, attends the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church.
UK Press/Getty
1997: Princes William (far right) and Harry, clutch gifts from wellwishers as they leave Sandringham Church with their father, Prince Charles, after attending morning service today (Thursday). Both teenage princes – spending their first Christmas without their mother – managed a smile and thanked people for their good wishes.
John Stillwell/PA Images/PA Images/Getty
1997: Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie attend the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church.
UK Press/Getty
The next generation…
2014: Prince George in a courtyard at Kensington Palace.
The Duke Duchess Of Cambridge/Shutterstock
2016: Prince George of Cambridge attends Church on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty
2016: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend Church on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty
2016: The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave following the morning Christmas Day service at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire.
Andrew Matthews/PA Images/Getty
2019: Princess Charlotte and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary Magdalene Church
Christmas Day church service.
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
2020: Christmas card of Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge which features an image taken in the autumn by photographer Matt Porteous showing the Duke and Duchess with their three children Prince George (left), Princess Charlotte (right) and Prince Louis at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Matt Porteous/The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace/PA/WPA Pool
2021: Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year which shows Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge with their three children Prince George (right), Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Jordan earlier this year.
Kensington Palace/PA/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
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