Merry Christmas from King Charles and Queen Camilla! Their Majesties’ annual Christmas card has been released. The 2024 holiday greeting features a photo of the royal couple, taken by photographer Millie Pilkington this past April, in the gardens at Buckingham Palace.
“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year,” the King and Queen’s message inside of the card reads. The Queen was photographed wearing a blue Fiona Clare dress, while her husband was dressed in a gray suit with a blue tie, which complemented his wife’s outfit.
The royal family’s official social media accounts shared the card, writing: “Christmas is coming… 🎄✨ Their Majesties are pleased to share this year’s Christmas card, taken by @milliepilkingtonphotography in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace in April 2024.”
The couple’s 2024 card is less formal compared to last year’s, which showed the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace’s Throne Room on the day of His Majesty’s coronation. The garden picture marks their third Christmas card photo since Charles became King. The image appears to have been taken at the same time as the picture that was released in April announcing that the King would be returning to public-facing duties.
The monarch was diagnosed with a form of cancer earlier this year and began treatment in early February. That same month, His Majesty’s daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, began a course of preventative chemotherapy. Catherine revealed in September that she had completed her treatment.
Prince William has previously described this year as “dreadful.” “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult,” the heir to the throne told reporters in South Africa last month.
“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” William added, but noted that “from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”
While the Waleses’ have yet to share their 2024 Christmas card photo, they’ve already been getting into the holiday spirit. On Dec. 6, the Prince and Princess, along with their three kids, attended Catherine’s fourth “Together at Christmas” carol service, and it was revealed on Dec. 8 that the Prince of Wales had served Christmas lunch at The Passage, which he is royal patron of.
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